Your smile is one of your most beautiful features!
There are nearly 20 different kinds of smiles, and we miss every single one of yours.
As we continue with our social distancing measure to flatten the curve of COVID-19, we can’t wait to get back into the office and see your grins again! Until then, we wanted to share a few interesting facts about your best accessory.
Your smile is unique, beautiful, and completely yours. Read on to discover 10 things you never knew about it!
1. It’s an instant mood booster.
When it comes to smiling, the old adage of “fake it ‘till you make it” holds true. Did you know the very act of smiling is enough to boost your dopamine and serotonin levels? It also lowers stress and strengthens your immune system!
Even if you’re not particularly cheerful, try taking the time to turn your lips upward. Even a fake smile will work! Over time, you’ll likely find that it takes less of an effort, and before you know it, you’re naturally feeling a little more upbeat.
2. It’s your trademark feature.
Studies show that your smile is the most recognizable part of your face. In fact, people can identify certain ones from 300 feet away!
Not convinced? Think about all of the great smiles you’d know from anywhere. From your parents and children to Julia Roberts, there are some smiles we can identify in mere seconds. If you’re feeling lost in the shuffle, remember that no one’s smile is quite like yours!
3. It affects your facial structure.
Your teeth and jawbone do much more than just chew your food. They also directly support your cheeks and lips. As such, they play a major role in the appearance of your smile.
If you’re missing teeth, it can cause the skin and tissue around that area to change shape. In addition, it can also catalyze a change in your alveolar bone, which supports your teeth. Without the bone stimulation and daily growth associated with tooth contact, that bone can begin to deteriorate and weaken.
Over time, this can cause your cheeks to sink in and make you appear older. When you restore that missing tooth with a dental implant, you can instantly add years back to your face and revitalize your vibrant reflection.
The best part? The process is easier than you think. Search for “dentist near me” and find a skilled dental team who can perform the professional implant services and other cosmetic dentistry services you need.
4. It makes you sound friendly.
It might feel silly to consider the sound of a smile, but chances are, you could identify it.
Nowhere is this phenomenon more evident than when you’re talking to someone on the telephone. If the person on the other end of the line is smiling, it doesn’t take long for their inflection, volume, and tone to follow suit.
For this reason, customer service associates are often taught to “smile with their voice” to put customers at ease. This is a critical part of establishing trust, building brand loyalty, and appearing as friendly and reliable as possible.
5. It can add seven years to your life.
We’ve already mentioned that smiling can deliver a powerful immune system boost, but we aren’t just talking about warding off illnesses or allergies. Rather, the health benefits you achieve from smiling can add years to your life!
While modern research backs up this claim, one of the most compelling studies occurred in the 1950s. At that time, researchers examined a collection of official photographs of professional baseball players. Then, they tracked those players over the course of their lifetimes.
Their findings? The players who genuinely smiled in their photograph lived an average of seven years longer than those who didn’t smile at all.
6. It’s a workout.
Feeling unmotivated to get outside and work out? Try warming up with a few smiles!
You can use more than 50 different facial muscles every time you smile. If you have a small, relaxed smile, it might only use five muscles to activate. Either way, it’s a low-intensity workout that can deliver a major beauty boost.
7. You’re born with it.
No one has to teach us how to smile. It’s one of the very few skills we put into practice all on our own, even as infants.
Babies are born with the ability to flash a reflex smile, which will usually occur within the first two months of their lives. Between the ages of one-and-a-half and three years old, it will turn into a genuine reaction, so get your camera ready!
8. There are 19 different kinds.
A researcher at UC San Francisco has identified 19 different kinds of human smiles, putting them into two categories.
First, there are polite or social smiles. These are ones we flash to fit in, mask our true feelings, or feign enjoyment. Then, there are sincere smiles that reveal deep, genuine happiness.
Polite smiles engage fewer facial muscles than sincere ones, which work out both sides of your face!
9. It’s a universal sign.
There are many symbols and gestures that are easily lost in translation.
A handshake or hug might mean different things across cultures, but a smile can bring us together. Around the world, it’s recognized as a universal symbol of both happiness and acceptance.
10. It can help your career.
Research shows that people who smile at work are more likely to go further in their careers. Experts explain this is because a simple smile can help you appear more confident, competent, and trustworthy at work.
In one recent study conducted by the American Academy of Orthodontics, 75% of people who received orthodontic treatment as adults reported seeing growth in their careers and personal relationships. They attributed this uptick to their newly improved smile!
Sending You a Virtual Smile
Until we can all be together again, your dentist family is thinking of you and sending a virtual smile your way.
In the meantime, please call us for any dental-related questions or emergencies, and remember, we can still schedule routine appointments in advance. We’re here for you and miss your beautiful smiles!