Life certainly has its ups and downs, but there are always reasons to smile. On the surface, smiling makes you seem friendlier and more approachable, and it can help elevate your mood even if you’re having a bad day. At St. Louis County Dental, our team of dentists is dedicated to making sure our patients love their smiles.
In addition to those surface level benefits, smiling can actually improve your health. There’s a considerable amount of scientific evidence that demonstrates how smiling more often can improve both your mood and your physical well-being. Here are a few solid reasons to smile today.
When you smile, it causes a number of chemical reactions in your brain. For example, smiling triggers your brain to release hormones called endorphins.
Often referred to as “nature’s natural painkiller,” endorphins are designed to help your body deal with pain and stress. When your brain releases endorphins, they reduce stress and enhance your mood. Endorphins also act as a mild pain reliever.
Scientists at the University of Kansas came up with a clever experiment to test the health benefits of smiling. They had research subjects perform a difficult task while physically forcing themselves to smile using chopsticks. Afterward, researchers discovered that subjects who completed the task while smiling had lower heart rates than the ones who didn’t.
Smiling also releases other neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin as well as tiny molecules like neuropeptides, which help fight stress. And while you should always talk to your primary care physician if you’re feeling sad and depressed, there is evidence that suggests that even faking a smile when you don’t feel like it can boost your mood.
Need some convincing to smile? Here are the top benefits of smiling:
Are you happy with your smile? If you look in the mirror and sometimes wish your smile was different, our team of dentists can help. We help people all over St. Luis County achieve the smiles of their dreams every day. Call us today at (314) 762-6784 and ask us about our $1 consultation. We look forward to helping you smile brighter!
In addition to making you feel more confident and improving your social life, smiling can relieve stress, elevate your mood, and may even reduce physical pain.
Studies have shown that genuine intense smiling is linked to a longer life span. Since smiling and laughing may lower your blood pressure and boost your immune system, it may very well help you live longer.
If you can smile with confidence, you’ll want to smile more. Cosmetic dentistry treatments like teeth whitening and dental implants have an extremely high success rate and can make a big difference in your smile.
Dr. Barry Brace
St. Louis County Dental Partnership
469 S Kirkwood Rd
St. Louis, MO
USA 63122
New Patients:
314-762-6784
Current Patients:
314-332-1307
Monday: 7:30am - 7:30pm
Tuesday: 7:30am - 5:00pm
Wednesday: 7:30am - 7:30pm
Thursday: 7:30am - 6:00pm
Friday: 7:30am - 4:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am - 1:00pm
Sunday: Closed