How often do you smile? When you’re in a phase of life where you’re smiling a lot, do you feel a difference in your well-being and social interactions?
The truth is, smiling is much more powerful than most people realize. Dr. Ronald Riggio published an article in Psychology Today, touting the many benefits of smiling. These include enhancements to your brain, mood, and even has a positive effect on the people around you. Discover how you can use your smile to brighten up your own life and the lives of others.
Four Ways to Reap the Benefits of Your Smile
Everyone smiles at one time or another, but the frequency, quality, and timing of your smile can make a massive difference. Once you fully understand the power of your smile, you’ll see how it can enhance your performance at work, improve your mood, and even make pain more bearable.
You can use your smile to generate as much positivity to your life as possible. Consider these tips for getting the maximum benefit from your smile.
1. Smile More Often
Each time you show your smile to the world, endorphins are released, leading to a series of desirable benefits. These benefits spread to others, making every room you’re in a brighter, more positive place. While the average person only smiles at times when they’re particularly happy or laughing, there’s no reason to hold back – why not try increasing the times when you smile throughout the day? Here are some suggestions:
- Smile when greeting friends, coworkers, and family members.
- Smile when dealing with waiters, cashiers, and other business dealings
- Try using a smile to react to certain comments or situations.
- Approach someone new to talk to and break the ice with a smile.
- Use a smile instead of small talk when passing an acquaintance at work.
- Smile more around friends to make them feel better about being with you.
2. Smile to Relieve Pain and Tension
We all deal with stress, and when it happens, smiling and laughing may be the last things on our mind. More common stress reactions include cringing, clinching our teeth, and keeping a straight, serious face that shows you mean business. However, smiling is proven to relieve stress, pain, and tension — so next time you’re in a stressful situation, flash your bright, white smile instead, and feel how your mood begins to change for the better.
3. Put Everything Into Your Smile
There are dozens of recognized types of smiles, but many people show a stifled smile for any number of reasons. Perhaps someone is extra nervous so they smirk in one direction or only partially open their mouth. For those who have issues with dental staining, crooked teeth, or some other issue, finding the confidence to smile can be a daily challenge.
A Genuine, Fully-expressed Smile
Ideally, your smile shouldn’t be calculated and self-conscious. When your smile is genuine, wide enough to show all your teeth, and shared freely, it’s at its absolute best. If you’re someone who sheepishly smiles or usually flashes a nervous smile, it may be worthwhile to try and be vulnerable, not caring what you look like when you smile. A genuine, heartfelt smile conveys strong positive emotions and can bring benefits that make your day all around better.
4. Improving Your Smile When Necessary
Even if your oral hygiene is impeccable and you eat a balanced diet, dental problems can happen that diminish the attractiveness of your smile. This includes severe staining, crooked teeth, or even a single tooth that’s misshapen or pointing in an odd direction. When living with a dental flaw, there are basically two choices: Accept it, or do something to improve it.
If You Choose to Straighten Your Crooked Teeth
A recent study showed that 78% of people view those with crooked teeth as being less successful. While such assumptions are rarely true, we can’t deny that our smiles make a powerful first impression.
Luckily, if you want to realign your teeth, you have effective options. Metal braces are the traditional method of realigning your smile, but Invisalign, an innovative treatment provided by orthodontists like Dr. Stephen Grussmark, uses clear aligners to straighten your smile discreetly.
Cosmetic Services Can Completely Upgrade Your Smile
No matter the dental faults you’re living with, there are professional dental treatments that can erase or eliminate them. Two of the most basic cosmetic dental treatments are bonding and teeth whitening, both of which involve simple procedures that can vastly enhance your smile in just one office visit.
Dental veneers are a much more elaborate and permanent procedure and provide the opportunity to simply hide the problems in your teeth while strengthening them and improving your aesthetics.
If you’re interested in finding the right cosmetic treatment to improve your smile, simply search for a dentist who provides these services, such as Dr. Peter Silberstein in Boynton Beach, FL.
Don’t Be Afraid to Show Your Smile at Every Opportunity
Only good things can come from smiling more often and with greater enthusiasm. Not many people fully appreciate the power of smiling, but by doing it more often, you’ll encourage others to follow suit. Take whatever actions necessary to maximize your smile, and the physical, mental, and social benefits will soon follow.