24 Jan Smiling Is Good for Your Health, So Give Yourself a Reason to Smile
Did you know that smiling is good for your health? We know that it’s not always easy to smile, but when you do, it can have long-lasting effects. If you’ve been feeling down and need to give yourself a reason to smile, here are a few things you can try.
The Health Benefits of Smiling
An act as simple as smiling can have positive effects on both your physical and mental health. And the more often you smile, the more those benefits grow. Studies show that smiling can:
- Relieve stress
- Reduce pain
- Improve your mood
- Boost your immune system
- Lower your blood pressure
- Help you live longer
Besides the positive effects it has on your own health and wellbeing, your smile also affects other people. Smiles are contagious—they spread happiness and make other people smile back. Smiles also affect how people perceive your personality. When you’re smiling you appear more confident, and even more attractive.
With all of these great reasons to smile, you might want to start making smiling a habit. Every time you brush your teeth, give yourself a smile in the mirror. We know that some days are harder than others, so you might need a little motivation to smile. Here are a few things you can try.
Five Ways to Make Yourself Smile (Even when you don’t feel like smiling!)
- Watch something funny. Whether it’s your favorite sitcom or stand-up comedy or cat videos, find something silly to make you laugh.
- Talk to someone who loves you. Call your mom, your cousin or your best friend. Do a video call if you can—seeing them smile will make you want to smile back. Better yet, meet for lunch! But even if you can’t see their face, you should be able to hear their smile in their voice.
- Play with your pets. Their adorable antics will be sure to put a smile on your face, and their affection will warm your heart.
- Get out in nature (and turn off your phone). The fresh air, landscapes, and sunshine will have a positive effect on your mood. Feeling relaxed and refreshed from a few hours off-grid is a sure way to put a smile on your face.
- Indulge in some self-care. When was your last haircut? Have you ever had a hot stone massage or a pedicure? Whether you splurge on yourself or simply enjoy a long soak in the bath, doing something that makes you feel good will also make you smile.
Let Our Dentists Give You a Reason to Smile
If you’re shy about smiling because you’re unhappy with the way your teeth look, why not do something about it? Whether you’re getting restorative treatments or you’re interested in cosmetic procedures, dental care is another form of self-care.
- Teeth whitening treatments will give you more confidence in your appearance.
- Invisalign can straighten crooked teeth, close gaps, correct overbites, underbites and more.
- Dental implants can replace missing teeth and allow you to eat and smile normally again.
Prescott Dentistry can provide all of these treatments and more. To us, holistic dentistry means providing dental care that’s good for your physical health and your mental wellbeing, too. Let us give you a reason to smile—contact us to make an appointment today.
Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 12/12/24.