{"id":1115,"date":"2020-07-15T18:05:23","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T18:05:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/dental-care-blog\/can-smiling-make-you-healthier\/"},"modified":"2020-07-15T18:05:23","modified_gmt":"2020-07-15T18:05:23","slug":"can-smiling-make-you-healthier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/dental-care-blog\/can-smiling-make-you-healthier\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Smiling Make You Healthier?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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WE OFTEN HEAR<\/b> that it takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown. We\u2019re not sure where that came from, but it isn\u2019t actually true. At least ten muscles are involved in smiling, but it might require as few as six to form a frown. We propose changing the saying to \u201csmiling burns more calories than frowning,\u201d but let\u2019s take a look at the other benefits we get from smiling!<\/p>\n

The Smiling\/Happiness Feedback Loop<\/h3>\n

To say that we smile when we\u2019re happy might seem so obvious that there\u2019s no point in saying it, but the relationship between smiling and happiness is a lot like the chicken and egg question. We do smile when we\u2019re happy, but we also become happier by smiling<\/strong>! It turns out that the simple act of smiling (even when it\u2019s fake) releases endorphins, also known as the feel-good hormones. So it might be a good idea when you\u2019re having a rough day to try smiling until you feel a little better!<\/p>\n

Smiling Reduces Pain and Stress<\/h3>\n

The endorphins we gain by smiling have a lot of great benefits. In the short term, those include relieving stress and reducing pain<\/strong>. Endorphins function like painkillers (without side effects!) and help us recover more quickly from stressful situations. One experiment in 2012 tested how long it took the subjects\u2019 heart rates to go back to normal after a stressful task, and the smiling subjects recovered more quickly.<\/p>\n

Boost Your Immune System with a Smile!<\/h3>\n

The effects of endorphins can compound over time into something more long-term if we make a habit of smiling. We\u2019re making ourselves more resilient against illnesses \u2014 even reducing our chances of getting cancer<\/strong>! This happens because when we manage our stress more effectively, our cells go through fewer stress-induced mutations.<\/p>\n

Extend Your Lifespan by Smiling<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s a well known fact that people perceive a smiling face as being younger and more attractive than a face that isn\u2019t smiling. Well that isn\u2019t just about appearances: over the course of a lifetime, the health benefits from smiling can actually help us live longer<\/strong>. Of course, it\u2019s easier to smile when we\u2019re happy with the way our teeth look, which is just one reason it\u2019s so important to establish and maintain good daily oral health habits!<\/p>\n