Do you ever find yourself wondering, “Why smiling is healthy?”. Take a look at the folks close to you. Do they seem happy? Do they seem sad? Did you know that the mood of anyone around you, even complete strangers, can affect your own?
Just for now, try putting on a smile.
Can you tell whether you’re starting to feel better?
Keep your smile on your face and flash it to the next stranger you encounter.
Did they return your smile?
Well, laughter is the best medicine of all, but no one ever talks about it.
So let’s discuss how come a smile is healthy for you.
Smiling is associated with numerous health benefits, including a boost to self-esteem, happiness, and even immunity. Smiling has beneficial implications for your overall health. That isn’t only a placebo effect, either. Smiling is the surest way to instantly improve your mood and the way others perceive you.
The facial muscles are linked to the neurological system, which triggers the smile. The process of forming a smile causes the brain to discharge “feel-good hormones.” These are the happiness-inducing neurotransmitters.
SMILE creates a Chemical Storm in Your Brain!
When you smile, your brain releases a chemical storm.
The muscles in our faces enable us to raise or lower our mouths. The zygomaticus major muscle is the primary “smile” muscle, one of the 43 that contribute to facial movement. As an aside, dimples result from splitting this muscle.
When you flex your zygomaticus major muscle, a chain reaction in your brain causes neurotransmitters to be released. Neurotransmitters include feel-good endorphins, motivational dopamine, and calming serotonin. Every one of them does some kind of miraculous work inside of us.
Joy and calmness are the results of endorphins. Moreover, they have a pain-relieving effect. These responses aid in the handling of stress and pain. Dopamine and serotonin are neurotransmitters that have been shown to alleviate depression. Their discharge improves our disposition.
The chemical reaction that occurs when you smile not only lifts your emotions but also helps you unwind physically. Because of this, both tension and the heart rate and blood pressure may decrease. Natural chemicals like dopamine and serotonin can lift your mood just as effectively as pharmaceutical options can.
Putting a smile on Your Face is Good for Your Health
Smiling has several health benefits and mood-enhancing effects. The cumulative impact of increasing your smile frequency can improve many aspects of your life.
Better Mood
We talked about how a smile might make you feel better in general. The chemical avalanche in our brains not only lifts our spirits but also positively affects virtually every component of our bodies. Researchers have found that just pretending to smile might have a positive effect on one’s mood.
Soothing Effects
Because of the endorphins released by the brain when we smile, we may feel less pain when we do so. The discomfort experienced by patients who demonstrate negative emotions during medical operations have shown to be greater than that experienced by those who “put a positive face” on their pain, according to scientific studies. The ability to smile is like a drug!
Smile Lowers Blood Pressure
The heart is the center of our physical existence. It is a muscle responsible for pumping oxygenated blood throughout the body. When we’re under a lot of mental or physical strain, our heart rate and blood pressure both rise. While an occasional increase in blood pressure is completely natural, High Blood Pressure (HBP) can place a significant burden on the body, particularly the heart.
Though medicine may be necessary in extreme circumstances, smiling alone may help reduce HBP. Even while researchers are still trying to figure out exactly how laughing heals the human body, early findings point to this as a powerful therapeutic tool.
Smile Eases Anxiety
Smiling nervously in an uncomfortable circumstance is a great way to remove some pressure. When under pressure, the human body can react in a variety of ways, such as panic attacks, nervous sweat, and other symptoms. The simple act of smiling can help alleviate that. However, the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress, give it a shot. Just try to keep a positive attitude.
Stimulates the Immune System
Two years ago, many people weren’t as cognizant of their immune systems as they are now, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our urge to boost our body’s natural defenses coincides with this realization. The obvious solution is to be vaccinated, but what if there was a way to increase the vaccine’s effectiveness with minimal effort on our part? To what extent would you consider doing so?
When you laugh or smile, your brain releases neuropeptides, which are like little proteins. These microorganisms boost the immune system’s reaction, making them useful in the battle against the disease. Our ability to produce antibodies, which aids in the body’s defense against disease and infection, is boosted. Adding laughter to your daily regimen of vitamins and supplements is a great way to strengthen your immune system.
A More Youthful Appearance
To look younger, you need not resort to plastic surgery. One simple smile is all that’s required. True, a bright and genuine smile can help you look years younger.
Images of people exhibiting a range of facial expressions were given to research participants to see how the different looks affected their perceptions of the pictures. To succeed, you needed to determine how old the person in the photo actually was. Positive facial expressions, such as a smile, were consistently associated with a younger age estimate than negative ones, such as a frown, anger, or neutral expression.
DID YOU KNOW?
There is a correlation between looking younger and living longer. It has been scientifically proven that simply by smiling and laughing more, you can extend your life expectancy by a significant amount.
Relationships can also benefit from laughter and a positive attitude. Every kind of relationship counts, from blood ties to platonic friendships to romantic partnerships. In the workplace, relationships can be complicated. Improving your outlook can have a ripple impact on those around you.
Don’t Feel like Smiling? It’s adequate to “fake it,” too
Understandably, you may not be in the mood to crack a smile right now. However, you might still benefit from a health boost by pretending you are well. Try it. Get yourself a mirror. Put a smile on your face. Take a moment right now to think about something that makes you joyful. Just take ten seconds to look in the mirror and smile. Did you see a smile return from the mirror? We are sure it made you feel better.
If you are not happy with your smile, it is never too late to make changes. There are times when you are hesitant to smile in public because of your crooked teeth. If so, it is high time to schedule a consultation with SmilePath and place an order for your clear aligners now to get your perfect smile.
The clear aligners at SmilePath are delivered straight to your doorstep and the best part is that these aligners help you get your ideal smile in less than 6 months. Yes, you read that right!
SmilePath is always here to assist you in getting the best smile that you deserve so do not hesitate to get in touch with us anytime.