Of course, the main reason to get cosmetic dentistry is to make your smile prettier. Its various procedures can whiten your enamel, hide chips and cracks, etc. Still, just the fact that it makes you grin more is helpful. Having a habit of smiling can benefit your health over time. Your St. Albans City dentist can show you how that’s the case. To that end, here are five ways a smile can help your body.
It May Lower Your Blood Pressure
At least indirectly, smiling can have a positive effect on blood pressure. Evidence suggests that it reduces said pressure and thus lowers your risk of heart attacks or strokes.
This effect is indirect because laughter is the main cause. In other words, chuckles – and the smiling that goes with them – can ease the strain on your heart. Laughter really is a good medicine.
It Helps You Fight Disease
When you smile often, you make your body more resistant to diseases. The habit boosts your immune system and allows it to function better.
Given current science, the heightened immunity may relate to your mood. Smiling releases certain brain chemicals that lower stress. As your immune system is under less strain, it’s in a good position to protect you from diseases.
It Relieves Your Pain
Rather than grin to bear pain, a smile can offer relief. Showing off your pearly whites will ease your aches.
Indeed, smiling releases your body’s natural painkillers. These include endorphins, serotonin, and other brain chemicals. As these substances build up, you’ll feel good from head to toe. Your discomfort will then be muffled and replaced by calm and ease.
It Improves Your Mood
If you’ve heard the phrase “fake it till you make it,” you should know something: this idea has some truth to it. Smiling – even when you don’t feel like doing so – can elevate your mood.
Once again, the reason stems from how smiling affects the brain. Grinning activates neural pathways that affect your emotions. From there, you basically trick your mind into feeling happy. You’ll then be more likely to enjoy your surroundings.
It Lengthens Your Lifespan
Smiling won’t just make life more pleasant. Done enough, it could even make your life longer.
You see, research suggests that grinning lengthens your lifespan. The time it can add isn’t small, either – it may help you live a few extra years. That means a positive mood could be key to a healthy lifestyle.
In the end, smiling can benefit your health. Keep that in mind as you look to beautify your grin!
About the Practice
St. Albans Dental is based in St. Alban’s City, VT. Led by Drs. Saini and Aten, our practice seeks to give each patient the best smile possible. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency dental care. Our dental team will use these services to help you grin with confidence! For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (802)-524-4844.