Ed. Note: The following content was provided by Smudde Advanced Cosmetic Dentistry, who is a client of KHTS AM-1220.

Whether you’re getting a new job, starting a new relationship or setting New Year resolutions for a better and healthier you, there’s one thing you shouldn’t overlook: your dental health.

A perception study by independent market research firm Kelton Research found that the state of our teeth can impact our career, productivity and social life: People with whiter, straighter teeth are more likely to be seen as smarter, more professional and more attractive than those with crooked teeth.

In fact, nearly three in four (73%) Americans would be more likely to trust someone with a nice smile than someone with a good job, outfit or car. So how can you improve your first impression?

“There are so many things you can do dentally to re-freshen yourself and your face,” says Dr. Kelly Smudde, whose practice has been voted 2014 Best Dentist by readers of The Santa Clarita Valley Signal. “You can whiten your teeth, keep up with your cleanings or straighten your teeth with Invisalign.”

Related: Drs. Allen & Kelly Smudde To Provide A Day Of Free Dentistry To Uninsured

Invisalign uses see-through aligners that can be taken off and put back on as needed.

Patients find the process, which takes about six months to less than a year, easier and more visually appealing than traditional metal braces.

The benefits go beyond looks, too: “If you have straight teeth,” says Dr. Smudde, “there are less crevices and places that bacteria can hide, so it’s easier to keep your breath smelling fresh and clean.”

Beyond first impressions, dental health can also affect work productivity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), employed adults lose more than 164 million hours of work per year because of oral health problems or dental visits.

Poor dental care has also been linked to heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other health issues.

What if you don’t have dental insurance? No worries – there are affordable alternatives. Dr. Smudde’s practice, for instance, offers an in-house dental plan with significant discounts, as well as no-interest financing through Care Credit.

Dr. Smudde’s dental team also holds a day of free dentistry every year in conjunction with Dentistry from the Heart. They provide free cleanings, fillings and extractions to anyone over 18 who needs it.

This year’s event will be held on Friday, Feb. 13, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at their state-of-the-art dental office, located at 27450 Tourney Road, Suite 250 in Valencia, Santa Clarita.

“With a growing number of Americans lacking dental insurance, we feel this is a great way to address many health problems, and to give back to the Santa Clarita community,” says Dr. Smudde. “We’re blessed to be here and to have our patients’ support. We want to pay that forward.”

For more information about Dr. Kelly Smudde’s award-winning practice, visit YourValenciaDentist.com or Facebook.com/ValenciaDentists, or call (661) 505-6445.

To find out more about Dentistry from the Heart, click here.

Smudde Advanced Cosmetic Dentistry

27450 Tourney Road, Suite 250

Valencia, CA 91355

661-388-5369