The (super)Power of Your Smile

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Most superheroes aren’t known for their ‘smiling’ powers.

However, at Peak Dental, we think it’s one of the more underrated superpowers out there.

Sure, your smile can’t leap over tall buildings in a single bound — nor can it travel at the speed of sound.

However, smiling does possess the power to drastically improve your — and others’ — health.

There’s some real science behind this, and so, in this blog, we want to take a look at how and why smiling is so influential.

Benefits of smiling more often

Before we get too deep, take a look at what happens to your body when you smile more often:

  • Boosted immune system

  • Increased endurance

  • Alleviated stress

  • Relieved pain

  • Lowered blood pressure

The Duchenne smile

Named after the 19th-century scientist, Guillaume Duchenne (for his work in mapping muscles in the human body), the Duchenne smile is noted as the smile of true enjoyment — when the eyes constrict and ‘laugh-lines’ appear.

It’s this ‘true smile’ that’s been linked to health improvements, and interestingly (and ironically) enough, this smile can be faked.

The point to take home here is that, even if you aren’t feeling like smiling in the moment, you can still reap the health benefits of faking your smile.

How does smiling improve your health?

At our dental clinic in Lethbridge, we understand the importance of protecting your smile. That’s why we offer a variety of services to help you keep your teeth healthy and looking their best. From general dentistry to cosmetic procedures, we have everything you need to maintain optimal oral health.

So we know the benefits smiling can create in your life. But how does it do this?

It’s actually pretty simple.

When our facial muscles move to smile (whether it’s a genuine smile or not), a chain reaction fires in our brain and powerful endorphins like dopamine and serotonin are pumped through our body. Dopamine helps to increase feelings of happiness and serotonin helps to reduce stress.

Tips to help you smile more often

This can be as simple as leaving yourself little reminders throughout the day, to asking a friend to hold you accountable.

To help you smile a little more, here are some simple tricks you can do throughout your day:

  • Text a friend to tell you a joke

  • Collect a ‘smile board’ (for example, save humorous animal videos to your mobile device to look through later)

  • Set a ‘smile alarm’ on your phone at least once per day. When it goes off, smile for 30 - 60 seconds

Managing your ‘superpower’ smile

Great smiles come with great responsibility. Because smiling often helps to keep you happy and healthy, make sure you ‘return the favour’ and keep your teeth happy and healthy too!

If you’re looking for a dentist in Lethbridge who can provide quality care for you and your family, call us today at 403-381-1155 or book an appointment. We look forward to helping you achieve and maintain a beautiful smile for years to come!

Protect your smile by:

Happy smiling!

Joel Harding