The Benefits of Smiling

Smile With Confidence For Your Health 

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. 

The Science of Smiling

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. 

The Top Benefits of Smiling

Need some convincing to smile? Here are the top benefits of smiling:

• Smiling can help you live longer. Smiling might actually lengthen your lifespan. A 2010 study found that genuine, intense smiling is associated with longer life.

• Smiling boosts the immune system. It is thought that when you smile, immune function improves because you are more relaxed because of the release of certain neurotransmitters.

• Smiling reduces pain. Since smiling releases endorphins, other natural painkillers, and serotonin, you’ll feel good from head to toe when you smile. And if you’re in pain, this will help reduce your pain levels.

• Smiling elevates your mood and lowers your stress levels. This ties back to the science of smiling—the chemical reactions in your brain are beneficial to your mood and stress levels.

• Smiling makes you look more attractive. As humans, we are naturally drawn to people who smile. Also, the muscles used to smile lift the face, which can make you look younger.

• Smiling is contagious. Not only does smiling elevate your mood, but it can also change the moods of those around you for the better. Your brain automatically notices and interprets others’ facial expressions, and sometimes you might automatically mimic them. 
• Smiling improves your social life. A survey conducted by researchers at Penn State University found that service industry employees who smile more often are rated by customers as both friendlier and more effective than employees who smile less often. Simply put, smiling makes others want to be around you. 

Dream Smiles Are Created at St. Louis County Dental 

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!