Did you know that people with dental problems are more likely to feel depressed or avoid social interactions because they’re worried about how others might perceive them? Aesthetic issues like chips, cracks, discoloration, or gapped or misaligned teeth can even leave you feeling so self-conscious that you avoid speaking or smiling authentically.
Thankfully, your dentist can boost your confidence with one or several cosmetic services to enhance your appearance. Not only can this boost your mood, but it can also positively affect your general well-being. Continue reading to learn three ways that smiling can improve your health!
Benefit #1: It Relieves Stress
If you’ve ever felt overworked or at the end of your rope, you know how devastating stress can be. It can weaken your immunity, interfere with your gastrointestinal system, cause weight changes, trigger skin conditions, impact your moods, and even cause anxiety.
Fortunately, lifting the corners of your lips tricks your body into thinking that you have reasons to feel glad. This causes your brain to release neuropeptides that help fight off the extra tension you’ve been under. What better reason to upgrade your smile than to show off your results proudly and reduce all the added pressure?
Benefit #2: It Elevates Mood
Fall has finally arrived, and if you’re like millions of Americans, you might be more prone to feeling seasonal depression during the shorter, darker days. This can impact how you show up during the many occasions this time of year, like familial celebrations, holidays, or religious observances.
If you want to feel uplifted, why not turn your frown upside down? There’s a good chance it will improve your mood for the better because it triggers the release of chemicals like prolactin, vasopressin, and oxytocin that increase your neural communication. This also helps the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which are natural anti-depressants.
Benefit #3: It’s Contagious
If you’ve been holding back your authentic smile, you’re depriving yourself and the people around you of some well-deserved happiness. While your brain does indeed release plenty of feel-good hormones when you grin, it also responds to joyful expressions on the faces around you. Not only that, but research further suggests that you automatically respond to other people’s expressions by mimicking the motion.
That means by showing off the results of your recent cosmetic work, you can create a ripple effect of good feelings in your co-workers, classmates, family, or friends.
As you can see, there are several great reasons to show off your recently upgraded grin!
About the Author
Dr. Molly Burton has 10+ years of experience helping people improve their lives by enhancing their dental condition. She earned her dental doctorate from the University of Louisville in 2013 and is committed to ongoing educational courses to expand her knowledge. She offers a full array of services to meet all your needs at one convenient location. Then, she takes the time to get to know your unique concerns and goals so she can tailor treatment plans to meet them. She combines a gentle approach with state-of-the-art equipment to deliver comfortable, accurate results. If you’re interested in a cosmetic consultation, you can request an appointment on the website or call (512) 441-2098.