The masks are coming off and life is looking brighter. Smiling more and seeing those around us grin big again feels G-O-O-D!
And research shows smiling does more than make us look attractive. Revealing our pearly whites with a smile or laugh brings a multitude of benefits–from boosting moods to improving productivity–making it even more important that you feel confident about your teeth.
Smiling helps:
Boost your Mood
The act of smiling causes your body to release feel-good neurotransmitters that can turn your lousy mood into a better one, nearly instantaneously. And the more you do it, the more you’ll benefit from those feel-good emotions. Research shows smiling regularly can help to combat feelings of depression and lower levels of stress.
Rewire your Brain
Remember being a moody teenager and everyone around you always seemed to say, “C’mon, smile!”? While forcing someone to smile sounds crazy, there’s some logic here. The brain is incredibly adaptable, able to rewire itself based on consistent experiences. When you smile more, you can improve your positivity. And you smile consistently, you can rewire your brain to make being positive your new standard. Wow!
Improve Productivity
Smiling improves our moods–and being in a better mood typically ties in with feeling more confident. When we feel confident, we work harder, more efficiently, and more effectively. And when we’re more productive, we’re less stressed–and happier. Let the cycle continue!
Enhance your Immune System
Putting a smile on your face has even been shown to increase your immune system’s capabilities. Smiling helps to increase infection-fighting antibodies and create more immune cells.
Reduce Stress
Feeling stressed? Watch something funny and get your laughs on! Smiling releases neurotransmitters, like endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, which improve your mood and help to release negative emotions attributed to stress. And managing your stress is critical to your overall health and wellness.
Now you know how smiling can benefit your overall health and wellness–and that if you “force” yourself to smile more often, you can actually rewire your brain to become a more positive person.
But you can’t reap the rewards of smiling if your lips are always sealed because you feel self-conscious about your teeth. Having healthy teeth is one of the best ways to make you smile big and smile often. Be sure to:
- Visit your dentist regularly (2X annually) for checkups and cleanings.
- Brush regularly, twice a day, preferably with an electric toothbrush.
- Floss daily to fight plaque, the enemy of a healthy smile.
- Don’t smoke! We all know it’s bad for our overall health, but it also stains teeth and makes breath smell, which will keep you from smiling with confidence.
- Watch beverages like coffee, red wine, dark teas, and dark beers that leave hard-to-remove stains on your teeth.
- Drink plenty of water to flush your teeth clean and discourage tooth decay.
- Monitor other health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and bruxism (teeth grinding), which can all affect the health and appearance of your smile.
Questions about your oral health? Your team at CNS Dental is always here to help–be sure to talk to us at your next visit!