A smile is a physical demonstration of happiness and that’s just the beginning. A smile can also convey peacefulness, contentment, relaxation, friendliness, and even love. Smiles can be used to pacify, disarm, quell hostility, and infect others with positive feelings.
A smile is equated with beauty and attractiveness so it will always be fashionable. A single smile is timeless and can reverberate throughout history. Smiles signify compassion, kindness, and empathy. And perhaps most importantly, a smile is contagious, so it makes you happy and others as well.
The benefits of smiling
Smiling Helps You Live Longer
Recent studies have shown a correlation between happiness, health, and longevity These studies show that happy people tend to be healthier and live longer. Since smiling is an expression of happiness, it can be assumed that smiling also helps extend a persons’ lifespan. Indeed, the link between smiling and increased longevity has been noted in several scientific studies.
Smiling relieves stress
Leonardo Da Vinci has been quoted as saying “I love those who can smile in trouble” and if recent studies are anything to go by, Leonardo Da Vinci may have been onto something. Studies have shown that smiling not only reduces stress; it also reduces the physical effects of stress on our appearance.
Contagious Smile
One really nice thing about smiling is that it is contagious. When we see another person smile it is almost an involuntary action to smile back. This means that smiling not only elevates your mood, but it elevates the mood of others as well. One smile leads to many smiles that are passing on happy, positive feelings.
Smiling Boosts the Immune System
It is generally believed that smiling tells the brain to release neurotransmitters which create a relaxed state. The relaxed state is in turn good for your health because it helps your immune system function more effectively.
Smiling Makes You Attractive
Believe it or not, we are actually “hard-wired” to be attracted to people who smile. Smiling represents positive thoughts, and positive emotions, which are qualities we find attractive. Then just to make a good thing even better consider this, smiling can actually make you look younger. When you smile you exercise and strengthen facial muscles that lift your face and the end result is, looking younger and feeling better.
Improved Mood
Endorphins and serotonin are the so-called ‘feel good chemicals’ which alleviate pain, relax your body, and generally make us feel good. Smiling has been referred to as a natural drug because it triggers the release of endorphins and serotonin, which in turn, elevate your mood and produce a happy, positive feeling.
Smiling Relieves Stress
Stress has been identified as one of the major health problems of the 21st Century. Stress has been associated with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and mental disorders such as depression or anxiety. Smiling actually reduces stress, reduces the health risks associated with stress, and reduces the physical signs of stress.
Smiling and celebrities
Smiling may not be a big deal in the fashion world but that is certainly not the case when it comes to Hollywood celebrities. As a society, we equate smiles with attractiveness and there are some celebrities whose trademark is their Hollywood smile. These are celebrities who realize that a smile makes your appearance attractive to other people and in Hollywood, appearance and attractiveness are everything.
To a large extent celebrities automatically become role models, and when we see a celebrity with a beautiful smile, many of us want to have a smile exactly the same. Aspiring to have a celebrity smile is actually very common and the term “smile-seekers” is often used to describe this phenomenon.
Dentistry, Orthodontics and Smiling
A dazzling smile just isn’t the same without flashing those pearly whites. Unfortunately very few of us have the perfect smile, but thanks to modern dentistry and orthodontics, this situation is rapidly changing. Using orthodontic appliances such as clear aligners from a dental lab, as well as cosmetic dentistry techniques, dentists can now give people truly dazzling smiles. For example, using digital orthodontic technology, orthodontists make clear aligners to align the jaw bone, braces to straighten teeth, and dental implants to fill in holes and gaps. All of them help improve people’s smiles.
Cosmetic dental procedures
To improve a person’s smile dentists will often use cosmetic dental procedures. Here are some of the more common cosmetic dental techniques:
Tooth bleaching, (also called tooth whitening)
This will involve using a chemical that literally bleaches the teeth white. This procedure can be done at home or in the dental office and it is one of the most simple and affordable ways to improve your smile.
Enamel Bonding
Dentists use enamel bonding primarily for patients who have heavily stained or broken teeth. The enamel bonding material is moldable which means dentists can mold it and create whatever shape teeth are desired.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers have long been considered the premier standard in cosmetic dental procedures. This procedure involves placing thin porcelain shells over the surface of the teeth.
A simple smile says so much and has so many benefits. It affects your physical health and your mental well-being. A smile makes you more attractive to other people, and perhaps best of all, a dazzling, a beautiful smile is easily achieved just by visiting your dentist.
