What Smiling Says About You and Why You Should Do More of It

Dec 23rd, 2022
Easton Dentists Dec 27th, 2022

Smiles, Dentist Columbus, OH

You might’ve guessed that smiling can make you happier … but did you know it also helps you live longer?  It’s true!

Smiling also helps with attraction and happiness in more ways than you may have imagined. Looking for a romantic partner, or a new job this year? Then, get ready to flash those pearly whites!  If you feel they are not their brightest, call upon Dr. Gilmer in Columbus Ohio for their teeth whitening service!

More than a century ago, philosopher Charles Darwin and scientist William James suggested we might be able to adjust our mood simply by assuming the facial expressions representative of our goal. The first step to happiness is to start smiling!

Ever since Darwin and James proposed their theories, scientists have researched and discovered some interesting side effects to smiling along the way.

  • Smiling makes you more attractive: Research suggests we’re more attracted to people who smile than those who do not. While scientists aren’t exactly in agreement as to why this may be, there’s a perception that a smiling person makes others around them relaxed and happy. Basically, your smile is contagious … and therefore welcoming.
  • Smiles boost the immune system: It’s all about the neuropeptides, they say. Smiling (and also laughing) release these neuropeptides which help reduce stress. The result is less taxation on your immune system so you can remain healthy to combat any illness or stress that may come your way.
  • Smiling enhances your mood: Smile-science has a bit of a “chicken or the egg dilemma.” Does a smile make you happy, or do you smile because you’re happy? We can assume the latter is true, but what about the former? Recall those neuropeptides we mentioned earlier? Well, according to Psychology Today, when we smile, “feel good neurotransmitters dopamine, endorphins and serotonin are all released.” Your body relaxes, while your heart rate and blood pressure lower. This flood of feeling then places us in a better mood. Not bad for just crinkling up the corners of the mouth!

And, what about helping you live longer? Well, if the above three reasons aren’t enough for you, it seems, that, yes … smiling more can help you live a longer life. And the proof appears to be in the research. In 2010, a team of researchers aimed with an odd source material (The Sporting News Baseball Register), examined historical photographs of baseball players – tracking smile and life statistics throughout their lifetimes. From 1952 onward, these intrepid scientists crunched the numbers (and smiles), and discovered that, yes indeed, smiling did help these chaps live longer, healthier lives. They also remained married longer. Pretty neat, huh? You can check out a bit of the story on this fascinating study at Pacific Standard Magazine.

So, to wrap things up … we’ll leave you with this nugget of wisdom from cinema’s happiest of happy characters, Buddy, played by Will Ferrell in the feel-good Christmas film, Elf.
“I just like to smile! Smiling’s my favorite. Go forth and smile!”

How to Have a Brilliant Smile in Your Christmas Photos

Dec 20th, 2022
Easton Dentists Dec 27th, 2022

You’ve just returned home from a great holiday party, and smiling as you walk by the hallway mirror, you see it – a big green blob is stuck on your front tooth. Why didn’t anyone tell you?

To help you avoid embarrassing dental disasters during this holiday season, here are some tips to help your smile shine as brightly as the Christmas tree.

  • Alleviate some of the discoloration of “red wine mouth” by eating a bit of cheese or even drinking water between sips of wine. You should also avoid alternating between white wine with red, which is a definite stain maker.
  • Since acids in wine temporarily dissolve a microlayer of tooth, wine drinkers should avoid brushing their teeth immediately after drinking. Since teeth remain in this weakened state for about 20 to 30 minutes, rinsing with water instead of brushing right away will help protect the teeth.
  • To avoid getting food stuck in teeth at holiday gatherings, avoid broccoli, spinach, and other “stringy” foods that often lodge themselves between teeth. Sugary sweets are an obvious no-no, but if you must indulge, chocolate is a better option than caramels or lollipops. You may want to carry toothpicks or dental floss in your pocket to use when you visit the restroom.
  • Try to avoid chewing hard nuts, hard candy, and unpopped kernels because they make your teeth particularly vulnerable to cracking since they tend to weaken enamel
  • Need a cold beverage? Don’t forget that many people habitually chew on ice, which can cause gum injuries and, most frequently, cracked or broken teeth. In addition, never open containers with your teeth because that can put tremendous pressure on teeth and may result in cracking or even breaking teeth, preventing you from having a brilliant smile.

If you feel that your teeth did look their best in your Christmas photos, there is still time to set an appointment at the Dental Center at Easton (in Columbus, Ohio) to fix whatever bothered you in time for those New Year’s photos!