Your pearly whites are often the first thing that people notice about you when you’re out in the world—so smiling often wherever you go will lead to memorable and impactful first impressions! But while it’s true that your beam can capture the attention of those around you, did you know that smiling also provides you with several notable health benefits? Keep reading below as your dentist shares a few of them.
1. Smiling Makes You Look Younger
Despite what you’ve maybe heard about laugh lines, crow’s feet, or other types of facial wrinkles that are the result of smiling or laughing, you should know that some studies indicate it’s not smiling often enough that results in many of these issues! Researchers from the Max Planck Institute surveyed a group of participants who were shown pictures of happy, smiling faces and compared their reactions to those who were presented with pictures of neutral expressions. The recorded data showed that participants most often voted that the smiling faces appeared younger-looking, meaning that smiling often can wind back the clock to an extent!
2. It Bolsters Your Immune System
There’s an old saying that goes “Laughter is the best medicine”, and if you’re familiar with the expression, you might feel like it’s mostly bogus. But there’s actually some scientific truth to the adage; research from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine indicates that smiling and laughing can increase the presence of white blood cells in the body. These cells play a pivotal role in the ongoing fight against bodily infections and other threats.
3. It Reduces Stress Levels and Improves Your Mood
In addition to protecting your body from physical problems, smiling can also provide mental and emotional safeguarding! This is because the muscle activity involved in smiling sends signals to your brain that indicate safety; plus, smiling is also associated with a quicker physiological recovery from stress. Research also shows that smiling, even if it isn’t a natural reaction to something, can still stimulate the areas of your brain that are responsible for making you feel happy.
4. It Boosts Your Self-Esteem
There’s something magnetizing about an attractive smile, and humans tend to follow those who grin often and project an aura of confidence and positivity. Conversely, we usually tend to avoid others who are perpetually frowning or seem angry. A big, bright smile can provide you with an impressive boost to your self-esteem that’ll allow you to navigate social situations and ascend in the professional world with relative ease.
With all of the health benefits that smiling has to offer, why not take measures to look after yours as best you can? Your dentist can help you achieve the healthiest and brightest smile possible, which will yield innumerable benefits for your well-being!
About the Practice
The team at Healthy Smiles Dental Care is honored to provide families in the Lansing, MI area with an exceptional level of care! They offer a wide range of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatment options that are certain to get your oral health back on track and have your pearly whites looking their absolute best. If you have any questions about the article or would like to arrange a visit, feel free to contact the practice online or over the phone for further assistance: (517) 333-3160.