We talk a lot about the power of smiling here at Birmingham Orthodontics because we believe it can’t be understated. Did you know, for example, that smiling boosts your mood, your immune system, and relieves stress? We love smiles, and as we work on our own, we want to spread the joy—smiling is, after all, proven to be contagious. So whether you’re one week into your braces or you’re already promenading your new pearly whites, here are a few great ways to inspire more smiles all around you.
Local Volunteering
One of the best things you can do with a smile is use it to help brighten the day of someone less fortunate. When things get tough, a friendly face can make all the difference, especially from someone who is taking time out to care. Birmingham has plenty of volunteer opportunities, from spending a day serving at a local soup kitchen to cleaning up community parks or rebuilding areas impacted by severe weather. Try searching through an organization like Hands on Birmingham for an opportunity that speaks to you, and bring your best smile along for a neighbor in need.
Donate a Care Package
Care packages, survival kits, blessing bags—no matter what you call them—the impact they can have on a homeless person’s life is undeniable. Take what you’ve learned about the care and keeping of your smile to help others foster theirs. Making some care packages with toothpaste and a toothbrush (one with a cover would be especially helpful) for daily hygiene help, along with other helpful essentials like chewable multivitamins, sunscreen, bandaids, and wet wipes, is a small gesture that makes a big difference. Even if you can’t give a smile in person, you know you’ll be sending one out there into the world.
Build Someone Up
Sometimes we forget the power of a compliment, especially when it comes to the people closest to us. Take a minute to think about the folks around you—your family, spouse, friends, coworkers—and try to remember the last time you went out of your way to build them up for something small. Perhaps your coworker does little things like putting on coffee when it’s empty, maybe your spouse rubs your shoulders when you’re stressed, or maybe the barista at your favorite coffee place always gives you an extra pump of syrup. Whatever these small gestures are, make an active effort not to let them go unnoticed. When you smile and acknowledge something you appreciate about another individual, just watch their face light up—it makes everyone feel great, and it costs nothing to do!
What are some other ways you’ve put your smile to good use? You can make us smile by telling us in a comment or letting us know next time you’re in. Interested in learning more about how your smile can be a tool for good? Come in for a free consultation and get started on your transformation today.
At Birmingham Orthodontics, our mission is simple: we create smiles. Not only do we straighten the crooked grin, fix the bite, and adjust the jaw, we also brighten yearbooks, help young people come to like their looks, and give adults the confidence they have wanted for a long, long time. We also believe in our staff. Our culture of continuous learning has allowed us to host monthly training sessions for each team and bring in leading industry consultants to help keep us ahead of the curve. Contact us for a free consultation, or any questions you might have.
