Why Smiling Is Good For Your Health

For a lot of people, smiling seems like a simple, involuntary thing we do when we are happy, or when something strikes us as particularly funny. Or it’s the thing we do when someone says “cheese!” while we’re posing for a photo. 

But did you know that a simple smile provides a wealth of health benefits every time it spreads across your face? 

In today’s blog post, we’ll learn 5 reasons why smiling is good for your health, plus review some easy tips to keep your smile happy and healthy. 

Health benefits of smiling 

We’ve all heard the basic ingredients to staying healthy — getting adequate sleep, maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, managing stress, and staying hydrated. 

And while you probably don’t often see “smiling” sneak its way onto that list, the simple act has been scientifically proven to benefit the brain, nervous system, immune system, and more. Let’s take a closer look.

1) It improves your mood

Some days it’s not as easy to smile as it is on others — you get caught in traffic, spill your salad at lunch, or are simply dealing with the weight of a global pandemic. 

We associate smiling with happiness, and for good reason — smiling, even if it’s not a genuine smile, is proven to make you feel happier. That’s because when the muscles in our face form into a smile, it sets off a chemical reaction in the brain, releasing “feel-good” neurotransmitters into the body. 

These “feel-good” chemicals include endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. Endorphins and dopamine are often associated with feelings of happiness, while serotonin is a natural pain reliever that also acts as an antidepressant. 

2) It relieves stress and tension 

Recent studies have shown that Americans are some of the most stressed out people in the world, with nearly 60% of people reporting feelings of daily stress and worry. 

That’s a lot of stress. Thankfully, there’s an easy way to help decrease stress — smiling!  

As we discussed above, when our brain realizes we’re smiling, it triggers the release of our “feel-good” hormones. One of these hormones, serotonin, is considered a mood stabilizer and connected to our feelings of happiness and well-being. 

Not only that, but smiling also lowers your heart rate and blood pressure — both of which tend to increase during times of stress. 

3) It helps boost your immune system 

Did you know that stress and depression are both tied to the body’s immune system? Research has shown that those with depression or who experience higher levels of stress tend to get sick easier than those who are less stressed or report feeling more positive feelings. 

In fact, in one study, 334 volunteers were assessed for their emotional style (to determine their tendency towards positive emotions or negative emotions) and then given the common cold. Those who tended to have positive emotions were found to be more resilient to the cold, and also report fewer symptoms once they had it. 

Smiling leaves us feeling more positive and less stressed. Some researchers believe it may even help us live longer. 

4) It can relieve pain 

We know that when we smile, our brain releases “feel-good” hormones like endorphins into the body. These neurotransmitters help our brain deliver messages to the rest of the body about how we’re feeling. 

More specifically, endorphins make you feel happy and relaxed, and help your body in a few different ways:

1. Decrease stress in the body, slowing the heart rate and decreasing our blood pressure 

2. Naturally relax your muscles, which tend to tense up when we are stressed or in pain 

One recent study even found that smiling helps reduce pain from injections. 

5) It can help improve your self esteem and confidence

Believe it or not, smiling can have a big impact not only on how others perceive you, but on how you view yourself. Studies have shown that a simple smile can make you appear younger, friendlier, and overall more approachable. 

Keeping your smile healthy 

Now we know how good smiling is for your health — but what about keeping your smile healthy so that you want to show it off? Here are some easy tips we recommend to all our patients to help take care of their smile. 

Tip #1 - Take a preventive approach 

You’ve probably heard us say it before, but it bears repeating: prevention is key. What we mean by that is taking simple steps to prevent oral problems before they start and become problems that cost you time, comfort, and money. 

Our recommend preventive approach includes: 

• Visiting regularly for 6-month teeth cleanings and oral exams 

• Brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice per day for 2 minutes each time 

• Flossing daily 

• Consider using a daily mouthwash 

Tip #2 - Maintain a balanced diet 

How you eat can affect your teeth. Your diet and nutrition can affect the health of the tissue in your mouth, and in turn, how those tissues absorb nutrients moving forward. Here are a few things to consider when it comes to maintaining a balanced diet for oral care: 

• Limit intake of sugary and acidic food and beverage. Consuming food and beverages with a high amount of sugar or acid (like soda, juice, or sports drinks) increases your risk of developing cavities and tooth decay.

• Stay hydrated. Drinking water throughout the day helps wash away acid and bacteria that may otherwise sit on the teeth.

• Limit snacks. The ADA recommends limiting snacks in between meals. Not only are typical snack foods higher in sugar and acid, but less saliva is typically produced when eating a snack vs. eating a whole meal. Saliva helps wash food away from the mouth, which can otherwise sit on the teeth.

• Eat a variety of different foods. When your diet lacks certain nutrients, it becomes easier for your mouth to develop infection, and makes it more difficult to recover from infection once it’s there. 

Tip #3 - Quit smoking 

Did you know that smoking weakens your immune system? This makes it harder for your body to fight off infection — including infection in your mouth. Smoking puts you at an increased risk of developing gum disease, and once it has developed, it actually slows down the healing process.

Batchelor Dentistry is here for you 

Whether you’re looking to keep your smile healthy or work towards achieving the smile you’ve been dreaming of, our team here at Batchelor Dentistry is here to help! 

Contact us today at (540) 432-9992 or book your appointment online today.