You know how the song goes, “smile and the whole world smiles with you”. Well, apparently that adage is true, with researchers finding smiling not only makes other people happier, it also has health and confidence benefits for the person behind that beaming grin.
Here’s an insight into the benefits of a smile…
Smiling spreads happiness
It’s long been suspected, but researchers have recently confirmed it, smiling is indeed contagious. A recent Italian study found in order to process an emotion we first reproduce the facial movements of the expression we see, which means often we’ll replicate a smile long before we understand the reason behind it.
Meanwhile, we ae so intuitive we can even hear a smile in someone’s voice simply by the way they speak.
Smiling increases confidence
Sometimes you’ve got to fake it to make and a smile can play a central role in indicating you are confident and composed.
Not only does that warm, sincere smile you flash at a job interview indicate you are equipped to handle the role, it helps release hormones and chemicals that make you feel better too.
Smiling makes you happy
On that note, a great deal of research indicates the simple act of smiling can make you feel better by releasing endorphins into your brain.
Psychology Today explains smiling does this in a series of ways: it activates neuropeptides that work toward fighting off stress while “feel-good neurotransmitters dopamine, endorphins and serotonin are all released when a smile flashes across your face as well. This not only relaxes your body, but it can lower your heart rate and blood pressure”.
Smiling makes you healthier
Last year NBC even reported smiling has the potential to make you healthier due to a powerful reaction it elicits in the brain, releasing hormones like serotonin and dopamine.
In turn, these can help boost your immunity and resistance to common illnesses.
How Australians feel about their smile
While the benefits of flashing your pearly whites soon add up, Australian research indicates Australians are far from confident about their smile.
In fact, Orthodontics Australia recently found 55 per cent of adult Aussies are self conscious about their teeth and 46 per cent would like to ‘change’ their teeth over the chance of changing any other facial feature.
How a dentist can help
If you’re feeling far from confident about flashing the warm, welcoming weapon that is your natural smile, a dentist is the first person you should speak to.
Whether your smile is aging, crooked, lacking lustre or missing a few pearly whites, a dentist can help you transform it into a grin you can be proud of.
About Brite Dental
Brite Dental is a community-focused dental practice, committed to ensuring you and your family receive the highest quality of care in a warm and professional environment.
Offering a full range of dental services, ranging from children’s dentistry through to orthodontics and high-end cosmetic dentistry, we are conveniently located in central Panania.
You can learn more about our dental services, or contact us to book your next appointment.
