Smiling has the most positive effect on the brain and the rest of the body. When you smile, your brain releases all sorts of chemicals to make you feel happy and relaxed, and your body follows suit. Smiling reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and some studies even suggest it makes you live longer and look forever young.
So you see, a smile doesn’t just make you look good, it positively affects your health as well. But how does that happen? How does the act of smiling do all those amazing effects to the body? It all has to do with the brain.
What Does Smiling Do To The Brain?
Our brains are truly amazing structures. They are composed of billions of tiny nerve cells called neurons. These neurons connect the brain to every other cell and organ in the body, which is why the brain is considered the hub center for every bodily activity.
The action of the brain is regulated by a bunch of chemicals, that control when the brain relaxes, when it fires on all cylinders, and when it just sustains the basic life functions. When you smile, a number of very specific “happy” chemicals are released in the brain. These happy chemicals include Endorphins, Serotonin, and Dopamine.
The effect of these happy chemicals on the brain is incredible. The brain goes into happy mode, and the whole body follows as well.
What Does Smiling Do To The Body?
Your brain is now – literally – in its happy place. This makes the body happy as well, as evident by:
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Pain relief:
Pain is all in the mind. That is a saying that most martial artists use to keep them from feeling physical pain during battles. However, that is a true scientific fact. It is true that the nerve cells in the organs such as the arms, feet, and abdomen feel the initial trauma, but it is the brain that interprets these signals as pain. So when you smile, and your brain is swimming in happy chemicals, it interprets pain signals a lot less, lowering the sensation of physical pain, not to mention emotional pain as well.
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Lowering blood pressure:
The matter is still under a lot of research, but smiling does lower blood pressure. The exact mechanism is unknown, but it was found that when you smile, your heart initially races, followed by a period of relaxation and decreased heart rate, accompanied by a reduction in blood pressure.
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Improved immune system:
Smiling keeps your body healthy, literally. It boosts the immune system and stimulated the production of more White blood cells (WBCs). These WBCs are the body’s shield against infection and germs. Over-production of the WBCs keeps your body healthy and infection-free. Positive people are less likely to get sick, get post-operative infections, and have even fewer chances of needing to go to the hospital.
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Keeps you looking younger:
More than 5 pairs of muscles are used when you smile, stretching the entire face and keeping the skin above them taut, shiny, and looking forever young.
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Mood Improvement:
Dopamine is a natural anti-depressant. When you smile, it not only makes you feel subconsciously happy – even if you’re faking it – but it releases the happy cocktail that can shift your mood from sad to glad in a heartbeat.
How Smiling Reduces Stress
One of the key effects of smiling is that it reduces stress. Smiling reduces stress in 2 manners:
- The release of Serotonin, Dopamine, and Endorphins, which as we explained can make your brain – and whole body – happy. A happy body is a stress-free body.
- Reduction in the release of Cortisol, which is considered the main stress hormone.
It all has to do with the chemical balance in the body. Elevated Cortisol and reduced dopamine equal stress, while the other way around – which happens when you smile – means you are relaxed and stress-free.
Do These Effects Happen With Fake Smiling?
The beauty of these effects is that they happen with the physical act of smiling. Triggering the facial muscles of smiling is what releases these awesome happy chemicals. That means that fake smiling and forced smiles do the same effect as genuine, happy smiles.
Your brain doesn’t distinguish between real and forced smiles. When the smiling muscles go to work, Endorphins are automatically released in the brain, and the whole shebang follows. So smiling reduces stress, elevates mood, lowers pain, and boosts your immune system even if you don’t mean it. The life lesson here is: Smile, always and proud.
How We Can Help You Smile
We established what smiling does to the brain and the body, now we’ll try to help you get the smile of dreams that encourages you to be happy and smile often. Here is what we can offer:
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Cosmetic dentistry procedures:
These include teeth whitening, veneers, Snap-on smiles and so much more. Cosmetic dentistry is probably the most requested sum of procedures in modern dentistry. The effect of smiling is just not physical, but mental as well. The “halo effect” is very much a real thing and proves that people with great smiles have better marriages, better work relations, and are overall more successful in life. So don’t wait, get your pearly whites shining now.
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Braces:
Braces are a form of cosmetic procedures but are also a separate entity. The demand for braces has increased almost ten-fold in recent years. People are now more and more aware of the effect a great smile gets them, which is why even adults are now requesting braces. Many forms of braces exist including the traditional metal braces, clear braces, lingual braces, and the awesome Invisalign.
If you like to learn more about how smiling reduces stress, how it elevates your mood and makes you younger and healthier, contact us at PCO dental pediatric dentistry and orthodontics.
We’re located just around the corner at 34-22 35th Street, Long Island City, NY 11106. Call us now to schedule your appointment on (718) 223-5652
Tags: Braces Queens NY, cosmetic dentustry, smile, smiling reduces stress