You’re not alone if you’re considering undergoing one or more cosmetic dental procedures to enhance your appearance. After all, your teeth are one of the first things people notice when they meet you, and you’re less likely to make a favorable impression if they’re full of flaws.
But upgrading your grin can help with more than ‘just’ your appearance. For example, did you know that smiling can provide unique advantages that can improve your well-being and quality of life? Continue reading to learn more about it!
Benefit #1: Relieves Pain & Stress
Would you be surprised to learn that your mind and body are so closely linked that your facial expressions can affect everything from your mood to your oral and overall health? For example, frowning tends to activate stress-response pathways in your brain that are linked to negative emotions, like anxiety, anger, or sadness.
Meanwhile, turning your frown upside down can have the opposite effect on your system. The act of raising the corners of your lips releases feel-good neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin. This not only decreases levels of cortisol, a known stress hormone, but also acts as a mild natural analgesic and boosts endorphins to help manage or reduce pain responses.
Benefit #2: Improves Heart Health
High levels of stress hormones in your body can have a physical impact that can detract from your heart health. For example, cortisol, adrenaline, and other fight-or-flight hormones prepare your body for swift, immediate action to handle the current threat in front of you. They accelerate your heart rate and raise your blood pressure, which tightens blood vessels and forces the heart to pump harder. Chronic stress over time can even cause a buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attacks or strokes.
Thankfully, smiling can help prevent this by reducing the stress hormones circulating through your system. It also lowers your blood pressure and helps your heart rate recover faster after stress events, prompting positive changes that protect your cardiovascular system.
Benefit #3: Extends Your Lifespan
The physical and emotional effects of smiling, whether forced or authentic, may also help you live longer. Flashing a grin can help relax your body by reducing pain, soothing stress, and lowering your heart rate and blood pressure. This, in turn, can boost immune cell counts and helpful antibodies that help your body resist disease, which may increase your longevity.
For example, a 2010 study published in Psychological Science examined 1952 baseball cards of 230 different players, revealing that those flashing big smiles lived an average of 80 years, compared to roughly 73 years for those who remained tight-lipped or frowned in their images.
As you can see, undergoing one or more cosmetic dental services can do more than enhance your looks; it can also improve your health, reduce stress, act as a painkiller, and help you live a longer, happier life!
About the Practice
Patients with Sweet Family Dentistry benefit from two dentists who are passionate about helping individuals and families build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. Dr. Chan and Dr. Yip collaborate to provide a comprehensive menu of services, including cosmetic procedures, to meet your unique needs under one roof. Their caring approach and attention to detail are combined with advanced technology to deliver beautiful, long-lasting results. You can request an appointment on the website or call (972) 905-0340.