“You Are Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile” Why did I choose my blog title? Simple, smiling brings joy to people’s lives. It has been stated that the act of smiling activates neural messaging that benefits your health and happiness. The feel good neurotransmitters dopamine, endorphins and serotonin are all released when a smile flashes across your face (1). Smiling also activates the release of neuropeptides that work toward fighting off stress (2). Neuropeptides are tiny molecules that allow neurons to communicate. They facilitate messaging to the whole body when we are happy, sad, angry, depressed, and excited.
So why am I giving you all this information? So many people come to the dentist with a chief complaint that they don’t smile because they are unhappy with their smile. As a dental hygienist it’s my job to make sure you have a healthy oral cavity with a smile that shines and you’re happy with! If you put aside the importance of your oral health and really think about how smiling affects your life, it’s pretty amazing. A smile is an emotion, a way of communication, and part of your daily attire. It’s been stated when you smile, people treat you differently. You’re viewed as attractive, reliable, relaxed and sincere. Smiling can also be contagious! Crazy right, but if you think about it, if people around you are smiling you tend to start smiling, or at least become happier, and if people are sad and appear angry, then that makes you feel similar.
I have always been known for my smile, but I never fully understood all the science behind it. After digging deeper into the importance of smiling it truly has come full circle for me in understanding how a simple act of smiling can change the outcome of your day or someone else’s.
As dental professionals we have the ability to change our patients’ smiles. Knowing that I can change a patients’ life forever and bring that joy to someone’s life is why I am in this field and love my job. So don’t let your teeth keep you from living a long vibrant life! Come visit us at Parker River Dental to obtain your dream smile!
“I will never understand all the good a simple smile can accomplish” – Mother Teresa
Resources:
D. (2000). Neural correlates of conscious emotional experience. In R.D. Lane & L. Nadel (Eds.),Cognitive neuroscience of emotion (pp. 345–370). New York: Oxford University Press.
Seaward BL. Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Well-Being. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett; 2009:258
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