Smile is an outward expression of joy, amusement and excitement. When you are sad or upset, you don’t usually smile though smiling might help to change the mood. Every time you smile at someone the brain coaxes them to smile back at you. Smiling helps to create a reciprocal relationship which allows both of you to release endorphins and activate the reward centres, increase attractiveness and chances of living longer and healthier lives. To keep your smile healthy and bright book your regular check-up with Dental office Caledon.
When you smile on purpose it helps you to feel better. Carrying out the simple act of smiling on your face can make you feel actual happiness. Smiling on purpose changes brain chemistry. Though mental ailments like depression require more than just putting a smile. If you have been suffering from it then consult a doctor. But when you simply want to elevate your mood, then smile. Here is why smiling is important.
Affects your brain
Whenever you smile, your brain throws a little feel-good party by activating neural messaging which benefits your health. It activates the release of neuropeptides which help to fight off stress. Feel good neurotransmitters like dopamine, endorphins and serotonin are also released when you have a smile across your face. Smiling not only relaxes your body but also lowers your heart rate and blood pressure.
Affects your body:
When you smile, you come across as more attractive, reliable, approachable, relaxed and sincere. A study reported that seeing an attractive smiling face helps in the activation of the orbitofrontal cortex in the brain which helps to process sensory rewards. So if you see someone smiling, you are feeling rewarded.
Affects your surroundings
Smiling is contagious, quite literally. Cingulate Cortex is a part of your brain which is responsible for your facial expressions of smiling when happy or mimicking someone else’s smile. When subjects in a study were shown pictures of different emotions like joy, anger, fear and surprise and when the picture of someone smiling was presented, the researchers asked the subjects to frown. What they found was that the facial expressions of the subjects were imitations of what they saw. They had to make a conscious effort to turn their smile upside down. So when you smile at someone, they aren’t able to help but smiles back at you. However, they have to make a conscious effort not to smile back.