How Your Beautiful Smile Can Save Lives
We all know that a bright smile can lift our spirits, brighten our mood, and generally make a bad day seem just a little bit better. Did you know that smiling can go beyond a simple mood boost and improve your health? This is only one of the reasons why having a smile you can be proud of is essential not just for your self-esteem, but for your overall health.
The Benefits of Smiling All Start In The Brain
There’s an old joke among bio-chemists that goes “There are only two things you like: dopamine and endorphins.” The basis of this joke is that anything you do that you feel happiness and joy from comes from the bodies release of these chemicals. Every time you smile your body releases a cocktail mix of dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, which not only makes you feel good but also has a cascade of other effects throughout the body. These effects include relieving depression and boosting your mood, relieving pain, and helping to lower your blood pressure and heart rate.
But It Doesn’t End There
People respond differently to people they encounter that are smiling and generally, find themselves desiring to be around them more. In spite of whatever the reality of the situation may be, a bright smile makes those around you perceive you to be more relaxed, sincere, and reliable, all valuable aspects if you’re trying to make a solid first impression. Even more interesting is that viewing a person that’s smiling makes our brain respond as if we’ve just been rewarded with you guessed it, a release of the chemicals mentioned above!
Like A Good Vibe, Smiling Spreads
As a response to these chemical responses people who see others smiling tend to start smiling themselves, garnering all the benefits we’ve covered above. Research has shown that not only will smiling improve the moods of those around you, but that they’ll have a harder time retaining their negative state. This means that every time you smile at someone, from someone you know to a stranger in the coffee line, you’re spreading good cheer everywhere and lifting everyone’s mood in a cascade of outward spreading smiles.
To Share a Great Smile, It Helps To Be Proud Of It
To gain all these benefits, you need a smile you’re proud to share so you can do so quickly and easily. Ongoing studies have shown that the benefit of excellent oral health expands beyond healthy teeth and gums and has a full spectrum effect on us, ranging from mental and emotional well-being to having effects on our physical health.
If you want a smile, you can be proud of, or to ensure that you maintain the smile you already have, it’s time to pick up the phone and contact Dr. Scott T. Simpson at Appletree Dentistry. Dr. Simpson has been helping those in the Tigard, OR area by providing expert dental services that create beautiful smiles they’re proud to share. Give the world the gift of your bright, confident smile this year by scheduling an appointment today!
