How To Overcome Insecurities Around Your Smile

When you smile a few things happen all at once. The first and best thing is the hormone response that’s triggered by both smiling and laughing. Specifically, dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. They tell your body (most notably, your brain), that you’re happy. Who knew, that just by the simple act of smiling, you can naturally relieve stress and feel more confident in any situation.

You might not be aware of the chemical response, but if you’re more “in tune” with your feelings and look out for emotional changes, they’ll make even more of a positive impact. With all the good smiling does for you, many people miss out by choosing to smile less for one reason or another. Which is a shame – especially if it’s related to one’s insecurities.

If you’re ever insecure about your smile, don’t worry! There are ways of overcoming it. Smiling is a natural, innate response and the more you do it, the more benefits you’ll earn. In particular, for those who are on the shyer side, who could worry that smiling will attract unwanted attention or welcome judgment in some way by others.

If your insecurities are related to your teeth and your physical appearance, they can also be effectively addressed, as those are some of the most common issues. Start with the tips below for what to do when you’re feeling insecure about your smile.

1. Practice Smiling Alone

Think about the environment that makes you most insecure or nervous about your smile. Where is it? Odds are it’s in a public setting. When you feel like you’re being watched or paranoid for any reason, it can make it doubly difficult to feel confident enough to crack a smile.

But when you’re alone, those insecurities aren’t in the way anymore. With peace of mind that you’re the only one seeing your smile, you can practice getting used to it. If you feel unhappy with your smile, a great place to start feeling more comfortable with it is seeing more of it pressure-free. Practice smiling in a mirror and appreciate the different ways you can do so in preparation for smiling in social settings.

2. Take Pictures of Your Smile

The way your smile turns out in photos may be all the reason you’ve needed to feel insecure about it. So the natural solution is to take more photos, obviously! Of course, what can make it stressful or unpleasant is the fear of what others may see, especially anything negative.

It’s an understandable concern and you’re not alone. Thanks to how prevalent social media use is (and the importance of image and appearance through it), the idea of not fitting in or revealing even a single flaw can be quite intimidating. Don’t conform to unrealistic and unhealthy body image standards or waste time worrying about them. Focus on looking the way you personally think brings out your best qualities. If you must have a second opinion, ask someone you trust who is unquestionably looking out for you when they share their thoughts.

Related: 7 Mood-Boosting Strategies When You Feel Down

3. Take Care Of Your Teeth + Lips

There’s a pretty good chance that when you smile, you’ll end up showing off your pearly whites, and if you’re particularly sensitive about them (to the point that they keep you from smiling), you’ll want to address it sooner rather than later.

If you’re self-conscious about your teeth, try to narrow down the reasons why and when your concerns began. Was it because of what someone said? If so, remember that your opinion is what matters most, along with a qualified dental practitioner. Teeth health is very important, but not only for looks.

As oral health has been linked to chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Try to visit an orthodontist at least once a year for a check-up and cleaning, but also make sure to stay hydrated and use lip balm sparingly to keep lips healthy as well.

4. Build Up Your Self-Confidence

The most important difference you can make when you’re insecure is to build up your self-esteem and confidence. Like anything else you work on, it takes time and an honest intention to change.

Developing your confidence is also an ongoing process. Whenever you start to notice your thoughts slipping back into a negative cycle or pattern about your teeth and their appearance, know how to curb them, or at least mute them enough so it doesn’t limit your potential for the day. You ultimately have control over whether you feel insecure or not, make the choice that is best for you, always.




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Hana Othman

Hana Othman is the founder of SimpleHermit.com and identifies as an INFJ. Most days you can find her typing away or reading a book. Beyond that, she keeps busy as a dog and cat mom.