The Health Benefits of Smiling

mrushSmiling has been shown to have a positive effect on physical and psychological health. Researchers have found that a smile can offer the same level of brain stimulation as 2,000 chocolate bars. Smiling relieves stress, helps promote social connections, and causes your brain to release “happy” hormones such as dopamine and serotonin. Smiling provides you with a way to help your brain interpret the world more positively, and it can reduce the negative effects of stress on your body. 

The right dentists can help you to reap the benefits of smiling. Through the use of state-of-the-art technology, dentists can provide care and cleaning that creates a smile you can’t wait to show off. If you haven’t been going to the dentist regularly, keep reading to learn about the benefits of a healthy smile you want to show off to the world!

Psychological Benefits of Smiling

If you’re not in the best mood or feeling down, you might want to try “faking it until you make it,” since researchers have found that people can induce happiness simply by smiling. The act of smiling, even when you are having a bad day, can trigger your brain to release hormones such as serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals can create actual feelings of happiness. 

Research shows that smiling can cause you to perceive stimuli more positively. This can have a massive impact on people coping with depression or going through a stressful time. By smiling, even when you don’t mean it, your brain begins to interpret the world around you in a positive light, improving your overall mood and psychological health. 

On top of improving positive thinking, smiling also provides other psychological benefits, such as: 

• Creating healthier relationships: Smiling at people generally helps them feel more comfortable around you. This can help to improve the communication and feelings of affection within your existing relationships. 
• Reducing stress: The hormones dopamine and serotonin are very important in reducing stress hormones in your body. Smiling prompts your brain to release these hormones. 
• Increasing productivity: The hormones released when you smile can increase your energy levels. Smiling more at work can increase your productivity and bring a little more happiness to your workday. 

With these psychological benefits, it is easy to see why protecting your smile and your dental health should be a priority. With that said, while smiling may help, it’s always important to seek professional help when dealing with severe depression or mental illness.

Social Benefits

Smiling at someone is a kind of social reward. A smile can be interpreted as a sign of affection, or that you are having a good time with them, or that you like their sense of humor. Whatever the reason, research shows that your smile helps the people around you think more positively about their interactions with you. 

A genuine smile projects an image of happiness, a social nature, and a desire to be involved in whatever activity is going on around you. By smiling and expressing your happiness or amusement, you can better connect with others. Those connections can help you to form a healthy social network, which can improve your quality of life and your mental and physical health. Connecting with others and building solid friendships can also mean that you have people to reach out to if you have a problem and you need help. 

If you are interested in keeping a healthy and confident smile, you’ll need to schedule visits with your dentist regularly. Dental professionals are trained to help you keep your smile bright! 

Physical Benefits of Smiling

Smiling can help improve your life psychologically and socially, but it also has several physical benefits. These benefits might not be as obvious, but they can have a long-term impact on your life. Smiling can: 

• Strengthen your immune system: Smiling and laughter help to reduce the stress hormones present in your body, which has a wide range of benefits. It also increases your body’s production of important immune cells and antibodies. This can help you to fight off infections and diseases quickly. 
• Lower stress levels: Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that seeing an encouraging smile reduces the effects of stress hormones on your body. Stress can cause headaches, muscle tension, digestive problems, chest pains, and more, so reducing stress can have a positive impact on your overall quality of life.
• Increase your lifespan: According to Harvard Medical School, people with higher levels of optimism live longer and have a greater chance of living past 85 years of age. This means that smiles, and the positive attitude they inspire, can help you to live a longer, happier life. 

There are other physical benefits to taking care of your smile. Developing healthy eating habits isn’t just good for your teeth, it is also good for reducing your sugar intake and your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Visiting the dentist regularly can help you to maintain a nicer smile, and it can also prevent cavities and other problems from growing and causing infections. 

Things You Can Do to Smile More

Everyone’s life is filled with stressors that are beyond your control. However, it is easier to smile than you’d think. Plus, you’ll be able to see all of the psychological, social, and physical benefits of smiling as well. If you’d like to prioritize smiling more, try:

• Practicing in the mirror: One thing that can keep you from smiling is feeling self-conscious. If this is a problem for you, try practicing in the mirror! Get used to the way you look, and give yourself positive affirmations when you flash that grin in the mirror. On top of that, there are so many ways to smile! From full-on cheese to a sophisticated smirk, there’s plenty to practice.
• Brainstorming activities that make you happy: If you want to smile more, look for more reasons to smile. Make a list of the little things that make you happy, and try to incorporate them into your daily routine whenever possible. This will help you to smile more and will boost your mood. 
• Faking it until you make it: Even if you aren’t in a smiling mood, you can always just try smiling a couple of times every day. The act of smiling can trick your brain into releasing hormones that will make you feel a bit happier and brighter. 
• Staying up-to-date on dental appointments: If your smile is clean and healthy, you are a lot less likely to try to hide it from the world. Dentists have the knowledge and equipment they need to keep you healthy and happy. Dental imaging equipment can help dentists diagnose problems early and help give you a smile you can’t wait to show off. 

No matter what improvements you are trying to make in your life, smiling more is a great way to reach your goals. Whether you are trying to increase your energy, make more friends, improve your self-esteem, or boost your immune system, smiling can have a positive impact on every part of your life. The more you look, the more reasons you will find to keep your smile clean and healthy.