It’s not uncommon to hear people comment how much better we all look with a bright smile on our face, but there’s not a lot of talk about a much more critical factor. Smiling has essential positive effects on your health, both mentally and physically, something that people who are shy about smiling due to their oral health are missing out on. This is just one more way that oral health has been shown to affect your whole system, and we’re going to tell you why smiling can be an essential part of your whole-body health routine.
The Magic of an Unapologetic Smile
The human mind and body is a funny thing, full of little catches and oddities of behavior that don’t seem to make a great deal of difference on the surface. Take a moment and consider how contagious smiling can be, and how seeing someone smile at you can brighten your day and lead to you smiling more as well. This is all part of how smiling alters the chemistry in your brain, and it starts with neuropeptides. Neuropeptides are part of how our neurons communicate, but they also play a role in releasing stress and depression and instigate the release of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, the bodies feel-good trifecta.
Two of these three chemicals can perform magic for your mood, as endorphins help to relieve pain (thereby reducing stress), while serotonin steps in to help boost your mood and fight depression. So every time you smile you are giving your body a slight dose of feel-good chemicals from your internal factory, and when others see you smiling it tends to uplift their mood as well. A shining smile can brighten the whole world around you as a result!
But What About My Health?
While stress and happiness are both related to your overall health, we know that that’s not quite what you’re looking for, so here are some more direct examples of how smiling helps your whole body health. Research has shown that smiling can reduce your blood pressure, which is excellent news for your heart and can even help to relax muscles overall. It’s also known (when combined with laughter) to help boost the functioning of your immune system, whereas negative experiences (the stress mentioned above) can lower your overall defense against infection and disease. As if all that weren’t enough, smiling has been correlated with longer lifespans, so the more you smile, the more likely you are to live a long and happy life.
If you’re not smiling due to issues with your oral health, it may be time to stop in for a visit at The Sadati Center for Aesthetic Dentistry. Dr. Sam Sadati has been helping patients in the Wellington Florida area and from all over the world create lifelong confidence and happiness by providing them with services that beautify their smiles. Whether you’re missing teeth or have crooked teeth, you deserve to smile with confidence. Pick up the phone and make the call to Dr. Sam Sadati today!
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