All aboard the happy train! August was dubbed “Happiness Happens Month” by the Secret Society of Happy People founded by Pamela Johnson with the mission of encouraging people to talk more about their happiness through connecting with one another.
What do we do best when we’re happy? We smile! Smiling is a powerful body language that goes way beyond the corners of your mouth. Have you ever spoken to someone over the phone and could sense that they were smiling? Since smiling (usually) involves teeth, let’s discuss all the benefits of smiling and ways to improve your smile.
The Magic of Smiling
Attracting romance: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but most people would agree that smiling is sexy. It might be the first thing that gets the sparks flying. Audrey Hepburn said it best, “Happy girls are the prettiest.” Nobody sets out to find a miserable life partner. Happiness is ranked high on the list of attractive qualities in a person. Side note: Don’t look for love expecting to find happiness. You must be happy and content within yourself, and then your relationship can make you even happier. Nonetheless, happy wife - happy life. Ha!
Being happy and healthy: Research has linked happiness to physical well-being. Smiling plays a role in your health. When you smile, it releases endorphins (all the feels), which in turn, affects your mental and physical state, lowering your blood pressure and heart rate as well as boosting your immune system. UC Irvine conducted a study that looked at facial expressions in student ID photos and performed survey of how often students visited a health care center in the past year. The study concluded that those who smiled in their photo were more likely to visit a health care center in the past year (including preventative care) than those who didn’t smile.
Boosting your mood: As mentioned above, when you smile, your body releases endorphins that make you feel good and boost your mood. Feeling blue? Well, you can fake it till you make it. A fake smile can help train your brain to lift your spirits. Even seeing a smile can sometimes does the trick. It’s hard to resist feeling happy when you see someone full of joy with a big smile.
Living (almost) forever: If someone told you smiling could help you live longer, would you smile more? Duh! Smiling calms your nervous and makes you feel more relaxed. When your body is relaxed, your vitals are stable, and your immune system is stronger. Also, people who are happier are less likely to suffer from serious mental health illnesses, which can affect quality of life. Ever heard of the saying that “stress can take years off your life”? Read on…
Smiling the stress away: This isn’t to say that if you’re always smiling you won’t ever be stressed because well, stress is a part of life no matter how good things are. Stress can be a great thing when it encourages us to be productive and reach our goals. If you learn not to sweat the small stuff and choose to see the glass half full, then you will find it easier to let stress roll off your back, which means more smiles for you!
Spreading cheer: Smiling is contagious, just like laughing. You’ve probably exchanged smiles with strangers without even knowing. It’s just the natural thing to do – a smile for a smile. The simple gesture of a smile can go a long way. Someone could be having a bad day and by sharing a smile, you brighten the day. Smiling on the job makes for a happier work environment. It can also improve your career by building leadership and trust amongst your colleagues.
We hope by now that you have a big smile on your face as you read this. If not, why not? If you’re not smiling because you don’t like your smile, we are here to help! No matter the severity of the problem, at Berger Dental, we provide an array of cosmetic dentistry treatments such as dental implants, Invisalign, veneers, and whitening.
If you want to be happy with your smile, call us at 954-344-4488, or complete an online appointment request to schedule your consultation.