The eyes, chico. They never lie’, but what about the smile? Social impacts of an attractive smile are well documented. And its correlation with confidence in social interactions is reflected as an important aspect of society. Smile is not just turning up of lips at the corners. It is more than that.
Four things specifically!
First is how thick the upper lip is and where it sits on the face. A well-positioned and proportionate upper lip can make a smile look more appealing. Second is how much of your teeth show when you smile. A moderate amount of teeth is considered attractive. Third being the presence of black triangles (spaces between teeth near the gum line) and Occlusal Cants (when the teeth are not aligned evenly). Lastly, how much of your gums are visible when you smile. Too much or too little gum showing can affect the smile’s overall appearance.
Still, a radiant soul will always overshadow such test-driven insights. Ask your better half.
But how would you tell whether the joke you cracked to light up your date or your boss was actually FUNNY?
During a genuine smile, three muscles work together to create the characteristic smile lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth.
- Zygomaticus major muscle (Super Man)
- Orbicularis oculi muscle (Batman)
- Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle (Robin)
Think of the zygomaticus major muscle as the main hero in our smile story, swooping in to lift the corners of the mouth and create that big, genuine grin. This muscle inserts into the angle of the mouth, ready to spring into action whenever it’s time to flash those pearly whites!
Now, picture the orbicularis oculi muscle as the defender of the eyes, keeping watch over Gotham City. This muscle surrounds the eyes like a protective shield and closes the eyelids. It’s like the guardian against dust, debris, and too much light. And just like Batman’s cape, it also helps create those cool crow’s feet wrinkles around the eyes that show up when our hero’s smile is the real deal.
Last but not least, there is a “Nose-Lifting Ally,” like Robin, supporting Batman. This muscle might not be as famous as the others, but it’s essential to lift the upper lip and add that extra sparkle to our hero’s smile. It originates from the maxilla (imagine it as the hero’s secret hideout) and inserts into the skin above the nose and the side of the upper lip, working behind the scenes to contribute to those charming smile lines around the nose and mouth.
Wherein a fake smile may involve only the Super Man, who calls itself the whole DC smile.
Lastly, the mouth is a window to general health. However, we live in a time where the body is seen as a work in progress, something to be improved upon but never complete. Specifically, having a set of perfectly straight white teeth is seen as a symbol of status driven by sanitized picture-perfect galleries and selfies.
grewal 