pedSmile And The Whole World Smiles With You
A long time ago the great Louis Armstrong sang to us the unforgettable lyrics: “When you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you. When you’re laughing, the sun comes shining through.” Well, not only is that a great song, but it’s also more true than many of us realize. Scientists and anthropologists have long known that smiling is a universal human trait—across cultures and languages, in all parts of the world, a smile indicates happiness or pleasure. Furthermore, here are some wonderful benefits of smiling that you may not have realized.
- It’s A Great Way To Boost Your Mood
When you smile, endorphins are released in your body. These endorphins help brighten your mood, making you feel happier and more positive. Try smiling not only when you feel good, but also when you’re in a bad mood. Smile consistently for a full minute, and you’ll see that you feel better afterwards. If you look in the mirror as you smile for a minute, the effect will be further increased. That is, unless you don’t like your smile, in which case you should come see me as soon as you can.
- It’s A Great Way To Improve Others’ Moods
That’s right! You can also help others come out of their slump. And that’s not just because they’ll be inspired by your generous and authentic smile. It’s also because the mirror neurons in the brain are activated when we see someone smiling, and we want to mirror their expression of emotion. Therefore, naturally, when you smile, others smile too. Emotions are contagious.
- Smiling Reduces Pain
Scientists performed a study, where participants were tricked into smiling involuntarily while getting a shot. Volunteers not only reported less pain when their facial muscles had been manipulated into a smile, but their bodies also showed signs of reduced stress. They had changes in heart rate and electrical conductance across the skin. The participants reported up to 40 percent less pain than people who didn’t smile. This is a very cost-effective way to reduce pain!
- Stronger Immune System
You may know that your immune system is responsible for fighting off viruses and bacteria, keeping you healthy and feeling well. What you may not know is that the more you smile, the stronger your immune system becomes. Smiling increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, which improves your resistance to illnesses.
- You Look Younger
A study on Psychology and Aging showed that when participants looked at photos of happy faces, they guessed the age of the person in the photo as younger compared to photos of the same person with a neutral or angry expression. So if you want to appear younger, just go ahead and smile!
- Smiling Helps You Succeed In Life
Research shows that people who smile often appear more confident. Smiling people are more likely to be promoted, picked for activities, and are more likely to be approached by others. Others react to you exponentially more favorably when you smile. Try it.
These are just a few of the numerous reasons to smile more! And in order to smile confidently and brightly, it pays to work on keeping your teeth healthy and attractive. I am Dr. Slepak, your very favorite dentist, and I am delighted to help you improve your smile. Call today to schedule an appointment: 718.998.2424. My office is located at 2464 Coney Island Ave Brooklyn NY.