The Science of Smiling
Smiling is good for you. The more often you do it, the better you’ll feel. Recent scientific discoveries demonstrate that smiling more often will improve your health and make the people around you feel better, too. Our Lake Williams dentist encourages you to smile as often as you can.
Smiling for Better Health and Happiness
The physical act of smiling alters your mood by causing your brain to release endorphins. Often referred to as “nature’s painkillers,” endorphins are a type of neurotransmitter that your brain automatically releases in times of stress. This may sound strange, but forcing yourself to smile even when you don’t feel like it can actually make you feel better.
Over time, smiling more often will also be beneficial for your overall health. Negative thinking can develop into a destructive and self-defeating habit. These negative thoughts help create a cycle of doom that can be difficult to escape from. You can’t overcome negative thinking simply by smiling, but it can be a first step towards a more positive attitude.
According to an article in Forbes Magazine, you can reduce stress and counteract the brain’s inclination to think negatively by smiling more often. This will actually have the long term effect of “rewiring” your brain to help you maintain a more positive attitude.
In addition to making you happier, smiling can also make you healthier. There’s scientific evidence that smiling can improve wellness “on a cellular level.” When you smile, you reduce the rigidity of your cell walls, which helps to protect them from stress-related mutations that can damage your health.
Smile! It Makes Other People Happier
Smiling doesn’t just make you happier and healthier, it also improves your relationships with others. That’s because smiling doesn’t simply alter the way you feel about yourself, it also makes other people feel better.
According to an article from Scientific American written by a neuroscientist who teaches at UCLA, when someone smiles at you, it triggers a flood of positive neural activity. This occurs because our brains have something called “mirror neurons” which cause us to reflect the actions and feelings of the people around us. Mirror neurons explain why smiling is contagious and why it’s so nice to be around people who have a positive attitude.
Your Smile Specialists in Lake Williams
Dr. Wassenaar at Williams Lake Smiles is here to help you keep your smile shining bright. We offer a variety of treatments including custom crowns, veneers, and dental implants to help you achieve the smile you’ve been dreaming about. Call today to arrange a consultation with Dr. Wassenaar and find out what we can do for your smile.
