Smiling Enhances Life
COULD SMILING ACTUALLY ENHANCE YOUR LIFE AND THE LIFE OF OTHERS?
by Your Brytelin Lifestyle Team
Research shows that a smile can have numerous positive effects on both the person smiling and those around them. In this blog, we will learn about the impact of teeth whitening on smiling and how smiling more can enhance life. You will probably smile more after you read this. 😁
TEETH WHITENING INSPIRES SMILING MORE
Many people who undergo teeth whitening report an increase in their willingness to smile more frequently. Brighter teeth can enhance one's self-confidence and make them feel more comfortable showcasing their smile. When individuals are satisfied with the appearance of their teeth after whitening, they may be more inclined to smile, laugh, and engage in friendly interactions without hesitation.
HOW SMILING MORE CAN ENHANCE LIFE
Here are some of the findings regarding the enhanced effects of smiling:
- Mood Booster: Smiling can boost or enhance your mood and make you feel happier. This is because when you smile, your brain releases feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, which can help to reduce stress and anxiety.
- Social Connection: A smile is a universal sign of friendliness and warmth and can help to create social connections. People who smile are perceived as more approachable and trustworthy and are more likely to be included in social interactions.
- Pain Reduction: Smiling can also help to reduce pain and inspire a sense of wellness. Studies have shown that when people smile, their bodies release endorphins, which are natural painkillers.
- Better Relationships: Smiling can also enhance your relationships. Couples who smile more often tend to be happier and have better communication, while employees who smile more often tend to have better relationships with their colleagues and customers.
- Reducing stress and anxiety: Smiling can help to reduce stress and anxiety, both for yourself and for those around you. When people are less stressed and anxious, they are more likely to demonstrate kindness, patience, and understanding towards others.
- Improving health: Smiling has been shown to have a range of health benefits, such as reducing blood pressure, boosting the immune system, and releasing feel-good hormones such as endorphins. When people feel healthier and happier, they are more likely to spread positivity and contribute to a more positive world.
SMILING IS CONTAGIOUS
It is documented that smiling is contagious because smiling can create a positive feedback loop, where the act of smiling triggers positive emotions in both the smiler and the person being smiled at. When someone smiles at you, it can trigger what is called a mirror neuron response in your brain, which makes you feel happier and more positive. This inspires a mindset in people that is conducive for more interaction and engagement to occur that is helpful, friendly, cooperative, and appreciative in nature.
IN CONCLUSION
Having now explored the question of whether smiling can actually enhance life, it is reasonable to say that it can. There is evidence that teeth whitening can be linked to a willingness to smile more and that smiling more can create outcomes that are life enhancing. Though making this connection may not present the only pathway or approach to completely enhance one's life, now we better understand that smiling more is a very positive and right thing to do for everyone. Whether we smile because our teeth have been whitened recently or because of an intrinsic response within us to kindly engage with someone, the act of smiling can enhance the experience of daily life. In conclusion, it seems abundantly clear that we should never underestimate the power of a smile and that we should strive to simply do it more every day!
Keep smiling! 😁
Here are some additional sources that provide evidence for the positive impacts of smiling:
- Kraft, T. L. (2012). Psychological benefits of smiling. Current Psychology, 31(3), 227-240. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-012-9131-1
- Abel, E. L., & Kruger, M. L. (2010). Smile intensity in photographs predicts longevity. Psychological Science, 21(4), 542-544. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797610363775
- Harker, L., & Keltner, D. (2001). Expressions of positive emotion in women's college yearbook pictures and their relationship to personality and life outcomes across adulthood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 80(1), 112-124. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.80.1.112
- Pressman, S. D., et al. (2009). Smile intensity and warm touch as thin slices of child and family affective style. Emotion, 9(4), 544-548. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015667
🦉BE A WISE CONSUMER
💡Be sure to follow the exact directions for any teeth whitening kit, whitening product, and/or oral care product that you’re using because they can vary.
💡 It is always a good idea to contact a dental professional to share your teeth whitening goals and good oral health care goals to determine the best plan for you considering your individual needs.
*Results may vary when using any type of teeth whitening and/or oral care product due to individual use, lifestyle, and dental health.
