For infants, smiling is a natural reflex. But for adults navigating life with its share of heartbreaks and inevitable losses, flashing those pearly whites can become an afterthought. But not anymore! Explore the numerous benefits of smiling that will make you want to flaunt your grin more often. It’s time to discover why a smile holds more power than you imagined.
1. Decreases Stress
Tight deadlines from a toxic job can leave you just as worn down as your favourite distressed jeans. And when you’re frazzled and strung out, it can be hard to smile. But science says it might be worth a shot. Research from Health Psychology Review suggests that smiling, even when forced, reduces stress and increases happiness.
2. Improves Your Mood
Your smile can do more than reflect positive emotions. It can make you feel happy, too! A study from Experimental Psychology reveals that smiling can activate pathways in your brain that influence your emotional state. Unlock the key to sweetening a sour mood with a liberal dose of smiling.
3. Helps Prevent Health Concerns
In her book Secrets of Your Cells, biochemist Sondra Barrett exposes that one of the benefits of smiling is releasing tension on a cellular level. She explains how “relaxed” cells can discern between safety and danger, find and repair problems, and create a sense of balance within the body. Barret further emphasises that this relaxed state can potentially reduce the risk of stress-induced cell mutations that may lead to various cancers.
4. Reduces Pain
The benefits of smiling don’t end in disease prevention. According to the scientific journal Emotion, flashing a smile can trigger the release of endorphins, serotonin, and other natural painkillers. So, the next time you’re at the gym, instead of wincing in pain, try grinning your aches away.
5. Helps You Keep a Positive Outlook
Staying positive in a world of challenges can be tough. While it’s normal to feel sad or angry about unfortunate events, being in a constant state of negativity is unhealthy.
Here’s the perfect solution: Train your brain to lighten up by developing the habit of smiling. According to Shawn Achor, the author of The Happiness Advantage, you can rewire your brain for happiness. He introduces “The Positive Tetris Effect,” a technique that retrains your brain to scan for the good things in life – “to help us see more possibility, to feel more energy, and to succeed at higher levels.”
6. Increases Life Expectancy
Additional research from Emotion suggests that a genuine smile can contribute to a longer and healthier life. Studies by the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America support this claim. They found that optimism is associated with a lower risk of early death from cancer and infection. No one lives forever, but the simple act of smiling can lengthen your life span.
7. Makes You More Attractive
Brighten up your dating app or social media feed with a stunning smile! Research from Scientific Reports confirms that smiling makes you more attractive and signals trustworthiness and intelligence. People will always tend to veer away from those with a dark cloud hovering over their heads. So, it shouldn’t be surprising if the warmth of your smile draws others to you like fireflies to light.
8. Improves Work Performance
Besides increasing your market value in the dating scene, the benefits of smiling extend to the workplace. Studies from Trends in Cognitive Sciences show that smiling makes you appear more confident and approachable. If it’s taking longer than usual to climb the corporate ladder, consider flaunting your smile towards professional success.
How to Smile More Often
Now that you’re aware of the benefits of smiling, here are some ways to incorporate more grin time into your routine:
- Start your day with a smile.
- Express gratitude always.
- Surround yourself with positive people.
- Place notes around you to remind you to smile more.
- Watch or read uplifting content.
- Practise smiling in front of a mirror.
If you’re conscious about flaunting your grin because of physical concerns, work with your doctor to get a smile makeover. Your dentist can recommend solutions and treatments that address specific issues. If you have crowding or spacing problems, they might recommend aligner therapy with ClearCorrect. This removable orthodontic appliance discreetly and comfortably straightens teeth, moving them into their proper positions.
From better health to a sunnier outlook, the benefits of smiling know no bounds. Even if life isn’t as smooth sailing as you want, there’s no need to drown in your sorrows. You’re bound to find reasons to be thankful and smile. So, what’s holding you back? Go and flaunt your grin all day, every day!
References:
Cross, M. P., Acevedo, A. M., Leger, K., & Pressman, S. D. (2022b). How and why could smiling influence physical health? A conceptual review. Health Psychology Review, 17(2), 321–343.
Horn, S., Matuszewska, N., Gkantidis, N., Verna, C., & Kanavakis, G. (2021). Smile dimensions affect self-perceived smile attractiveness. Scientific Reports, 11(1).
Lee, L. O., James, P., Zevon, E., Kim, E. S., Trudel‐Fitzgerald, C., Spiro, A., Grodstein, F., & Kubzansky, L. D. (2019). Optimism is associated with exceptional longevity in 2 epidemiologic cohorts of men and women. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 116(37), 18357–18362.
Marmolejo‐Ramos, F., Murata, A., Sasaki, K., Yamada, Y., Ikeda, A., Hinojosa, J. A., Watanabe, K., Parzuchowski, M., Tirado, C., & Ospina, R. (2020). Your face and moves seem happier when I smile. Experimental Psychology, 67(1), 14–22.
Pressman, S. D., Acevedo, A. M., Hammond, K. V., & Kraft-Feil, T. L. (2021). Smile (or grimace) through the pain? The effects of experimentally manipulated facial expressions on needle-injection responses. Emotion, 21(6), 1188–1203.
Sondra Barrett, Ph.D. (2023, August 25). Book Reviews – Sondra Barrett, Ph.D. Sondra Barrett, Ph.D. – Illuminate, Inform & Inspire.
The happiness advantage. (n.d.). Shawn Achor.
Wood, A., Rychlowska, M., Korb, S., & Niedenthal, P. M. (n.d.). Fashioning the face: Sensorimotor simulation contributes to facial expression recognition. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 20(3), 227–240.
