Category: Oral Health

How Smiling Affects the Brain

Posted on by Pres mult

Smiling affects the brain. Most people never consider how this simple act can make every day better and brighter. The shoppers at Aldi supermarkets have figured it out. They have honored traditions like offering a simple bouquet of flowers to a stranger having a rough day. The shoppers at Aldi practice just being nice — and it makes the world a better place.

Simple Magic Is Unleashed When You Smile

When we smile in a mirror, our reflection smiles back at us. In the real world, when we smile at a total stranger, they usually smile back also. Our children know the blessings of a smile and laughter, but we often lose that as we transition into the adult world.

Children smile an average of 400 to 500 times per day! Unfortunately, a happy adult manages 40 to 50 smiles per day. For the average adult, the numbers are even more distressing as they only manage 20 to 30 smiles per day. What kind of a world would we create if we could unleash the unbridled happiness of children into the adult world?

Aside from a smile being the symbol we use to show happiness, what physical effect do they have?

How the Smile Muscle Works

How smiling affects the brain -- zygomaticus major muscle
How Smile muscules work

There are 43 different muscles in the face that contribute to our ability to show different feelings with expressions. The main muscle that controls our ability to smile is the zygomaticus major, also known as the smile muscle.

The smile muscle extends from the cheekbone on each side to the corners of the mouth. When it has a split it is called a bifid zygomaticus major and may cause dimples. That is a discussion for a different day, though. The zygomaticus major is the muscle that allows the corners of our mouths to raise, forming a smile.

When we smile, the zygomaticus major retracts, pulling up the corners of our mouths. Our facial muscles are also directly connected to our brains and neural network. The simple act of smiling creates a chain reaction within our brains, which is where the magic really happens!

Explaining How Smiling Affects the Brain

We see a child playing, their laughter and joy make us smile. A stranger holds a door open for us and greets us with a smile that we gleefully return. We see a familiar face wading through the crowd at the airport as a family member comes home for the holidays and we smile. Whatever the reason for the smile, the action causes an immediate reaction in our brain.

The first thing that occurs is the release of small molecules or neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters that fend off stress. The immediate reaction causes an increase in blood pressure and perhaps a flushed face as blood circulation increases. But then our bodies relax, relieving stress — all because of a tiny smile!

The tiny messengers, dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin all play a significant role. Indeed, the trio is known as the Happy Hormones or Feel-Good neurotransmitters. Each messenger creates a reaction that courses through the entire body.

Endorphins are natural pain relievers. When we fall and hurt ourselves, but start laughing about how silly we must look, endorphins go to work to lessen the pain. In several studies with surgical patients, those who expressed joy and smiled a lot felt less pain and required fewer pain relief medications.

Serotonin and dopamine are the body’s natural anti-depressants. You can create a mood boost with a fake smile. Think a happy thought and try on a smile right now.

Another combined effect from the release of the Happy Hormones is stress relief, which can also lower blood pressure and heart rate. After the initial rush that briefly raises blood pressure and may cause a flush, our bodies relax. So smiling and laughing can also have great health benefits.

Stress Relief Through Laughter Therapy

Although the act of smiling may never alleviate the need for prescription medications for depression, it can be a great help. So much so that doctors have even begun prescribing laughter therapy and laughing yoga as an additional method to help patients.

Laugh therapy groups meet for the sole purpose of laughing. The first laugh is usually a stilted and very fake-sounding, “Haha” uttered at fellow group members. The sheer fakeness is funny, and someone laughs a bit. The next thing you know, the whole group is participating in tear-inducing, gut-splitting laughter.

The purpose of laugh therapy is to help our bodies heal themselves by forcing the release of Happy Hormones. Not only does laughter and smiling relieve stress, but it also boosts our immune system and overall health. Laugh yoga works in a similar manner. And if you’re really a glutton for a gut-splitting laugh session, try goat yoga — because baby goats are always hilarious!

Smiling in Your Daily Life

For better brain health, you can add smiles to your daily life. Smile when you wake up in the morning. Smile when the coffee finishes brewing. Choose a bright outfit that makes you smile. Watch your children sleeping for a few moments before waking them for school.

There are many instances during our normal days where we can add smiles. As you pass someone in the corridor, smile and say, “Good morning.” Most will smile back. Not only did you brighten your day with a smile, but now your neighbor is also smiling!

Smiles are one of the most contagious actions we perform. We are naturally more apt to return smiles from a friendly face, even if we’re having a rotten day. Just as with laugh therapy, even a fake smile can prompt the release of serotonin and dopamine to improve your mood.

Smiling in Your Workplace

Smiling in the workplace can help improve the overall atmosphere. It can also improve productivity. When people enjoy going to work, they naturally work better. So if you want to improve your workplace — just smile more.

Knowing how smiling affects the brain can improve every aspect of your life!

Smiling Affects the Brain — Tune Yours Up

If you don’t like to smile because you are dissatisfied with the way your smile looks, Dillon American Orthodontic Care can fix that. Located in Landstuhl-Ramstein, Germany, Dr. Michael Dillon, and the entire staff want to help you discover your perfect smile.

Scheduling your First Appointment is simple — just fill out the Appointment Request form and submit it. Whether you are seeking treatment for yourself or a child or teen, Dr. Dillon offers Invisalign®, traditional braces, and more.

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Does Smiling Boost Your Immune System?

Posted on by Pres mult

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, our immune systems have been front and center in protecting us. Who knew that the simple solution would be to smile more? There is scientific data that confirms that smiling does boost your immune system!

Why You Should Be Smiling Daily

Laugh therapy, laugh yoga, and daily smiling exercises have been on the rise lately. If you’re one of the people finding it difficult to smile please know that you are not alone.

In a study released in 2015, 74 postpartum women were tested. There were 38 in a control group (no laughter therapy), and 38 in an experimental group with laughter therapy. The results were conclusive that laugh therapy boosted the immune response in the experimental group.

According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter is also a great stress-reliever. Among the short-term benefits:

  • Enhances oxygen intake
  • Stimulates internal organs (lungs, heart, and muscles)
  • Increases the release of endorphins in the brain
  • Activates, then relieves stress response resulting in relaxation
  • Stimulates circulation
  • Helps with muscle relaxation which soothes tension

The findings also revealed a list of long-term benefits that can be derived from laughter:

  • Relieves pain by helping the body produce natural painkillers
  • Makes coping with difficult situations easier
  • Helps with interpersonal relationships
  • Lessen depression, stress, and anxiety
  • Boost self-esteem

Perhaps the largest benefit of laughter and smiling is to the body’s immune system.

How Smiling Works to Boost Your Immune System

Smiling triggers our brain to release dopamine. To translate that — dopamine is a neurotransmitter that our bodies make and use to send messages, sort of like a little chemical messenger. Dopamine is a very integral part of our body as it assists in many areas, including:

  • Learning and motivation
  • Heart rate and blood vessel functioning
  • Sleep
  • Kidney function
  • Mood and attention
  • Pain processing and movement

Dopamine also plays a role in controlling digestive responses such as nausea and vomiting and can play a part in lactation for nursing mothers.

Smiling releases dopamine which activates the immune system, increasing the number of illness-killing cells and antibodies. The happier we are, the better our entire immune system functions. Laughter encourages the cells in our bodies to work better.

Additional Health Benefits of Smiling

In addition to creating a stronger immune system, smiling can help in many other areas of general health too.

There is documented evidence that smiling and laughter can help lower your blood pressure. Because the action of laughing relieves stress and tension, it can also help with circulation and effectively lower your blood pressure. While it won’t replace your prescription medications for HBP, it may help lower your dosage requirements.

Even a fake smile can help reduce stress levels. When we are at our most stressed, a simple smile can be an ice-breaker that allows us to continue with necessary tasks. A reduced stress level contributes to better heart health and lower blood pressure.

People who suffer from chronic pain may know something about smiling as an aid to pain relief. Because dopamine helps your body use its nature painkillers, smiling may reduce pain.

Unless you’re a marathon runner, you probably don’t think much about endurance. On the other hand, if it wears you out walking around the block, you will be happy to know that smiling can help increase your endurance. On your next walk, try smiling at the kids playing. Enjoy the flowers along the route. Talk to the barking dog and laugh a bit.

People have consistently searched for the mythical Fountain of Youth. Who knew that it was within our grasp the whole time? Smiling is even known to increase your life expectancy!

Learning to Smile — Fake It ‘Til You Make It

If you don’t experience much laughter in your life, consider trying to add some humor to your daily routine. It can be as simple as scrolling through funny memes on social media. You can read funny books, watch TV sitcoms or comedy movies. On date night you can visit the local comedy show.

Add a few thoughts to your brain’s filing cabinet that make you happy. When you need a little lift, recall those memories. It could be your child’s first step or a funny antic that your cat did. Anything that has made you laugh and is a fond memory can be a trigger for adding dopamine to your system.

If you notice a co-worker is wearing one brown sock and one black sock go ahead and laugh. They’ll get a boost too! Laugh at yourself when you do something silly.

Join a laugh yoga group, or start one at the office during lunch. The concept is simple. People practice laughing together. Sometimes it may seem forced, or fake, and that’s just fine. When someone uses a hokey fake laugh it will evoke a hearty guffaw from someone. Before you know it everyone is laughing.

We should add a caveat here. While it is funny to laugh at things like mismatched socks, please be sure that your co-worker is laughing with you. Laughter should never be accomplished at the expense of another person’s feelings. Humor should be fun, not mean or vindictive.

Laughter Really Is the Best Medicine

Try an experiment. Go to the nearest mirror. Laugh. Did your reflection laugh back? Doesn’t that feel great?

Try smiling during the normal course of your day. Doing chores. Before making a phone call or answering the phone. While doing the dishes. Whatever is on your agenda today — smile before you start each task.

Smiling can improve your mood, aid relationships, and generally just make life better all around. It is also contagious. When someone looks like their day isn’t going so well smile and wish them well. Chances are they will smile back.

A Straight Smile Will Boost Your Mood Too

It’s true — smiling can boost your immune system.

If you are hesitant to smile because you don’t like the way your teeth look, now is the perfect time to contact Dillion Orthodontic Care. To begin your journey, simply fill out the Appointment Request form. Whether you are interested in Invisalign or traditional braces, Dr. Michael Dillon can help.

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