Beyond Beauty: Health Benefits of Smiling Often

At first glance, it may seem superficial to want a beautiful smile. Showing off your appearance shouldn’t matter more than other substantial things, but what if smiling comes with some health benefits as well as cosmetic advantages? Well, it does! In fact, keep reading to learn what smiling often can do for your health and why cosmetic dentistry is worthwhile.

Smiling Convinces Your Brain to Release Positive Hormones.

Smiling isn’t just a symptom of happiness—it can actually help cause it as well! It gives credence to the old saying: fake it until you make it. If you put a somewhat real smile on your face, eventually your brain reads the signal and releases hormones like serotonin and dopamine that match being happy. In other words, your smile can help put you in a better mood and improve your mental health. It can even reduce physical pain! It’s okay to experience sadness or other emotions, but if you are currently neutral, smiling more frequently can help you feel happier.

Smiling at Others Encourages Healthier Relationships with Them.

Have you ever felt down, only to see a stranger’s smile at you? It can brighten the whole day! On the other hand, a loved one’s smile can also be emotionally healing for the person who sees it. As a result, relationships can get stronger and deeper. Healthy relationships and connection with others are often forgotten necessities for humans, but without meaningful relationships, humans can lose sight of important things in life and start unhealthy habits or practices.

Smiling Reduces Stress, Helping Your Heart Stay Healthy.

When your brain orders the release of “happy” hormones, one of the results is lower stress, which is excellent for the heart. The lower your blood pressure and the less stress your heart is under in normal circumstances, the stronger it will be and the longer it can last.

Smiling Can Boost Your Immune System and Lower Inflammation.

Have you ever noticed that you tend to get sick when you’re under a lot of stress? On edge, your body can tense up and stall immune responses to health threats. On the other side of the coin, when you relax, which smiling does to your body, your immune system can protect against viruses and bacteria more quickly and effectively.

Smiling doesn’t just complete your look or make you more attractive. It can benefit your body and mental health just as much! Although cosmetic dentistry isn’t considered “essential” care, you can certainly call it self-care. Improving the appearance of your teeth can motivate you to smile more confidently and more often, helping you enjoy all these benefits!

About the Author

Following dental school, Dr. Patrick Crowley continued his training with a Advanced Education in General Dentistry program, which provides more extensive teaching for dentists just starting their career. Every day, he takes advantage of state-of-the-art technology like digital impressions, 3D imaging, and sedation to make appointments more comfortable and treatment more successful. Would you like to see how cosmetic dentistry can make your life better? Give our Edmond dental office a call at 405-751-5515 or go onto Bluff Creek Dental’s website here to get in touch with us.