Searching and going for a job interview is pretty stressful where ever you are in the World be it Australia, India, or the USA, you are trying to tell an employer that you are capable of doing a stellar job and would be a better choice than other candidates with similar experience, skill set, and qualifications. You have got your foot in the door with that updated resume and excellent references, but there is more to making that first impression than what’s written on your CV. You must have carefully chosen your interview-day outfit, because looking your best is essential, but have you thought about your smile?
Yes, that is important too and can be the difference between hearing, “you can start on Monday” and “we will give you a call.”
What Does Your Smile Tell An Employer?
Your smile says more than you could ever imagine to an employer. It starts a non-verbal dialogue the minute you walk into the job interview, after all, first impressions speak the loudest. The impact is so high that numerous scientific studies have been conducted showing the link between a white and bright smile and employment. 46% of recruiters reported that appearances influence their hiring decision during the face to face interviews and 41% of recruiters judge your appearance before they meet you, stating that they look and review a candidate’s photo on LinkedIn or other hiring and social sites before your first interview. An attractive smile can help you land the job offer, all the way from the pre-to post-interview process.
Another study found out that 58% of the participants were more likely to be hired and 53% receive higher salary offers after undergoing teeth whitening treatments. Researchers also found that individual whose smile was deemed more attractive are perceived to be a better candidate for the position even if they were technically less qualified. If you smile at an employer with discolored teeth, they might subconsciously assume you are less intelligent than your competitor. So, if that is the case, you should look to whiten your teeth.
It Is All About Perfection
There are various problems bad teeth can cause for job seekers as most of the employers make instant judgments based on appearance, including your smile and teeth. A bad smile can distract employers from seeing your real potential. However, why is this so?
The reason is that society has profoundly firm belief that bad teeth can indicate other bad qualities in a person. White looking teeth are viewed as an indicator of overall health and that you take good care of yourself. If your teeth are discolored, it indicates that you are sick in other ways. People with an attractive and brighter smile are viewed as more happy, professionally successful, healthy and intelligent as well as deemed more socially appealing.
Invest In Your Smile
In today’s highly competitive business world, it makes sense to give yourself every advantage. If your smile isn’t up to the standard, now is the right time to take action. A whiter smile could go a long way in making a difference to the first impression. There are various tooth whitening treatments available to you depending on how much money you want to spend and the desired results. Using at home teeth whitening kits, you can whiten your smile easily and quickly before that big interview.
Teeth Whitening Options Available
As said above, there are various options for teeth whitening, but they are based on certain factors including the type of discoloration, cost, age, and dental history.
- Professional Teeth Whitening
This tooth whitening treatment is carried out by a dentist using several different methods. Each of the process they use consists of a bleaching agent namely hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. This agent reacts with the stains breaking them down offering a whiter and brighter smile. The professional teeth whitening methods include:
- Chairside Whitening
It is an in-office whitening method where an experienced dentist first applies a protective gel to the gums and then the bleaching agent to whiten the teeth. The in-office whitening effect lasts longer than any other method. However, you may feel sensitivity in your teeth for a day or two after the treatment. To aid the sensitivity issue, the dentist recommends using anti-sensitivity toothpaste. The dentist may also use the application of light to whiten your teeth known as zoom procedure; it is a fast and effective way to whiten the teeth. However, you would need touch-up treatment to keep teeth from getting discolored. The average cost of this method is around $800 per visit but can vary from dentist to dentist.
- At-Home Teeth Whitening
It is a take-home teeth whitening kit prescribed by a dentist. The dentist takes an impression of your teeth to make a tray and fill it with the teeth whitening gel which is applied to your teeth for a prescribed amount of time. The tray is worn for 30 minutes to few hours a day for a period of 1-3 weeks depending on the extent of discoloration and the desired effect. The procedure allows for a gradual and controlled change in the shade of the teeth.
- Over-The-Counter Teeth Whitening Products
There are various OTC teeth whitening products available. However, these products have less concentration of the bleaching agent as compared to the in-office whitening treatment. OTC teeth whitening methods are an inexpensive way to whiten your smile. Here are some of the products that help attain a whiter smile.
- Teeth Whitening Kits
It is similar to take-home teeth whitening kit by a dentist, but with a difference that the bleaching agent is less concentrated and is not custom made. The kit has a mouth tray, premium formula gel syringes and a handy shade guide to track your progress. The concentration of the bleaching agent is 6% hydrogen peroxide and 18% carbamide peroxide. It is the concentration approved by the Dental Associations and if any teeth whitening kit has a higher or lower strength than this, then do not buy the product. The cost of this treatment is much lower than the in-office, and you need to wear the tray for 30 minutes or so for a period of one week. The handy shade guide will help you track the progress. It is a complete DIY teeth whitening system as you have to look yourself into for how much time you need to wear the tray. Keep in mind to read the instructions carefully before using the kit to get the desired results.
- LED Teeth Whitening
The blue light teeth whitening kit like the ones you might have seen celebrities endorsing on social media are a great at-home teeth whitening treatment. These kits come with a tray filled with the gel before using the blue LED light to activate the bleaching agent. Some LED whitening kits available in the market have a system where you need to immerse the trays in boiling water and then bite down to mold them to the shape of your teeth. On the other hand, some have fixed shape trays to apply the gel. These home-based kits contain a lower concentration of bleaching substance than what the dentist offers. However, it provides advanced teeth whitening without visiting a professional. Here one product that is quite effective and safe to use is the Active Smile teeth whitening kit as it has a prescribed amount of bleaching agent with the LED light accelerator, mouth tray, three premium formula gel syringes, and a handy shade guide. It has everything you need to get a brighter and whiter smile at a much lower price than in-office whitening treatments.
- Teeth Whitening Strips
There are a lot of different whitening strips available helping you achieve a whiter smile without visiting a dentist office. Whitening strips are small pieces of flexible plastic each coated with a gel containing hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide on one side. You need to peel off the protective covering and attach the whitening strip on the upper and lower teeth and leave them on for 30 minutes. However, the amount of time to leave them on varies depending on the kit being used. Also, you need to apply the strips for a set amount of time to get the best results. So, I would recommend that you read the instructions carefully. This treatment option makes your teeth look whiter on their flat surface, but yellower on the edges. If you have crooked teeth, the results will be hard to get.
- Natural Teeth Whitening Methods
There are various natural methods as well to whiten your teeth and believe me most of them are quite effective.
- Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is an age-old material used to trap toxins inside the body, and for food poisoning, it can help whiten the teeth by absorbing plaque and little titbits that cause staining. It sounds counterintuitive but is one of the proven methods of naturally whitening the teeth. It is a finely milled black powder made of coconut shell, olive pits, bone charcoal, and sawdust and processed with high heat which activates it. You can buy activated charcoal online or at your local pharmacy. To whiten the teeth, wet a toothbrush and dip into powdered activated charcoal and gently brush your teeth as you usually do. Let it sit for 2 minutes, spit and rinse thoroughly until spit is clear. It is a 100% natural way to whiten your teeth and also raises the pH of the mouth, thus protecting teeth from cavities. However, ensure that you buy organic activated charcoal and keep in mind that it causes much mess so keep a washcloth handy.
- Oil Pulling
This is other natural teeth whitening method where coconut oil or sesame oil is used. Put a spoonful of oil in your mouth and swish it for approximately 20 minutes to help remove plaque and bacteria from the mouth and whiten the teeth. You can also add a few drops of oil to your toothbrush and brush teeth as usual. Coconut oil has proven to be quite effective against the streptococcus bacteria that contribute to cavities and gum diseases as it is high on lauric acid. Oil pulling is a natural, safe and without any side-effect, therapy to maintain oral hygiene. It would be better if you use this method first thing in the morning before eating.
- Turmeric
When we think about turmeric, the first thing that strikes is that it stains items yellow so how it can be used to whiten the teeth, but the truth is it works. However, ensure that you use high-quality pure turmeric powder for this. Take some turmeric powder on your hand or a small bowl, wet your toothbrush and dip it in powder and brush the teeth as you usually do spreading turmeric on your gums and teeth. Let it sit for at least 5 to 10 minutes and then rinse thoroughly until the spit is clear. Then brush teeth with your regular toothpaste, tooth powder or other tooth cleansing product. Turmeric has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties so it will save you from cavities as well as prevent gingivitis and other gum diseases.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
That apple cider vinegar in your kitchen cabinet is capable of so much more than adding flavor to your salad. Acetic acid is the active ingredient in it which is useful in killing bacteria and whitening the teeth. If you have stubborn stains, rub apple cider vinegar directly on your teeth leaving it for a minute and then rinse with water. However, be careful not to use it often as it can break down tooth enamel. You can make a whitening mouthwash as well as it is less abrasive, mix one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup of water and swish around the mouth for several minutes and then rinse with plain water.
These are the teeth whitening methods that work and as long as recruiters judge you on your smile to offer a job, why not have the best one possible.
