WE OFTEN HEAR that it takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown. Weāre not sure where that came from, but it isnāt actually true. At least ten muscles are involved in smiling, but it might require as few as six to form a frown. We propose changing the saying to āsmiling burns more calories than frowning,ā but letās take a look at the other benefits we get from smiling!
The Smiling/Happiness Feedback Loop
To say that we smile when weāre happy might seem so obvious that thereās no point in saying it, but the relationship between smiling and happiness is a lot like the chicken and egg question. We do smile when weāre happy, but we also become happier by smiling! It turns out that the simple act of smiling (even when itās fake) releases endorphins, also known as the feel-good hormones. So it might be a good idea when youāre having a rough day to try smiling until you feel a little better!
Smiling Reduces Pain and Stress
The endorphins we gain by smiling have a lot of great benefits. In the short term, those include relieving stress and reducing pain. Endorphins function like painkillers (without side effects!) and help us recover more quickly from stressful situations. One experiment in 2012 tested how long it took the subjectsā heart rates to go back to normal after a stressful task, and the smiling subjects recovered more quickly.
Boost Your Immune System with a Smile!
The effects of endorphins can compound over time into something more long-term if we make a habit of smiling. Weāre making ourselves more resilient against illnesses ā even reducing our chances of getting cancer! This happens because when we manage our stress more effectively, our cells go through fewer stress-induced mutations.
Extend Your Lifespan by Smiling
Itās a well known fact that people perceive a smiling face as being younger and more attractive than a face that isnāt smiling. Well that isnāt just about appearances: over the course of a lifetime, the health benefits from smiling can actually help us live longer. Of course, itās easier to smile when weāre happy with the way our teeth look, which is just one reason itās so important to establish and maintain good daily oral health habits!
Bring Us Your Beautiful Smiles!
You donāt have to fight for your healthy smile alone! Weāre here to help. If you need advice on what you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong, just ask, and make sure youāre scheduling regular dental appointments every six months so that any problems that do come up can be dealt with right away!