There are hundreds of quotes, songs, and sayings on the topic of smiling, but the benefits of a healthy smile go far beyond pop culture. Improving your oral health with orthodontics can benefit you socially, professionally, and personally. An aligned smile can also have a positive effect on your total body health. If you’re unhappy with how your teeth look or feel, Dr. Murray and Dr. Olson are here to help! We have a wide range of affordable treatment options to give you a confident smile that will leave a lasting impression. Let’s take a closer look at why smiling is so important and how we can help you take advantage of that!
Train your brain to think more positively
As a human being, your brain has a natural tendency towards negative thoughts as a way of protecting you from danger. Thankfully, it also has the incredible capability to rewire itself based on the things you experience regularly, including smiling. When you make it a habit to smile more often, your brain becomes aware of this behavior and tracks it accordingly. The more you smile, the better your brain gets at breaking its natural patterns of negativity and replacing it with more positive thinking! Over time, it will become easier for you to shut out negative thoughts and think more positively. This change in thought pattern can boost your mood, enhance your creativity, and increase your self-confidence, too.
Brighten someone else’s day
You hear it all the time, but smiling really is contagious! There is a great deal of research on the power of smiling, both for the person doing it and those around them. Yale University set out to demonstrate that by conducting a study that divided volunteers into small groups with each person assigned a specific task. One volunteer was secretly instructed to act upbeat and positive as they entered the room, and as they did, the mood in the entire room became much more positive! Researchers also found that each person performed their task better after that, and the group itself was more likely to achieve its overall goal.
The University of Kansas conducted a similar study, giving volunteers a list of tasks to complete, many of which were notably stressful. Some participants were asked to smile during these tasks while others were told to maintain a straight face. When researchers measured the heart rates of all the participants, they found that those who had been told to smile had lower heart rates and an increased resistance to stress. These volunteers also self-reported feeling more positive overall.
Boost your mood
The simple physical act of smiling causes your brain to release “feel good” chemicals like dopamine and serotonin into your bloodstream, both of which cause you to feel more relaxed and content. Neuropeptides and endorphins also begin to flow, interacting with receptors in your brain to produce natural pain relief and a positive feeling throughout your whole body. If you’re feeling stressed out or upset, try smiling for a few minutes. Even if you feel like you’re faking it, you’ll be surprised by how quickly it can change your outlook for the better.
Improve your total body health
While braces and aligners are functional in nature, they offer many aesthetic and health benefits, too. If you have crooked teeth, you probably already know that it can impact more than your appearance. Oral issues that are left untreated can lead to health problems that may interrupt the ability to properly chew, swallow, and absorb nutrients. Misaligned teeth and jaws can also increase the risk for tooth decay, TMJ pain, chronic headaches, and can even impact speech. When you improve your oral health through orthodontics, it contributes to a better overall quality of life!
Smiling has also been shown to have a positive effect on your immune system. Antibodies are our body’s infection fighters and smiling can increase their presence. Stress reduction is important for your immune system, too. The less stressed you are, the less rigid your cells are and the faster your immune response cells can react to pathogens and other health threats. Smiling has been proven to reduce stress levels.
Increase your self-confidence
When you feel good about your smile, it gives you the freedom to truly be yourself. If you’re self-conscious about the way your teeth look and feel, it can be difficult to step outside your comfort zone and really let your personality shine. But when you’re confident in your smile and love the way it looks, you’ll share it with those around you more freely. A happy, healthy mouth will also help you feel more confident in yourself, something that will come through in your interactions with others and leave a lasting positive impression.
Serving up smiles that leave a lasting impression
Smiling has been linked to better moods, increased positivity, and a reduction in stress levels. It also makes it easier to connect with those around you. If you’re looking for a healthy smile that looks great and feels good, too, you’ve come to the right place!
Our goal is to give every patient a stress-free orthodontic experience with superior results. Our talented team offers outstanding orthodontic care for the entire family in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We’re proud to provide superior customer service and exceptional orthodontic treatment to patients of all ages in Visalia and the surrounding communities!
If you’re ready to take the first step towards a beautiful smile that makes an impact, get in touch today to schedule your FREE consultation with Dr. Murray or Dr. Olson.