Your smile can affect every area of your life, including your social life, romance, work, and especially your health. Aside from the positive responses that you typically receive from other people when you smile, studies indicate that smiling and laughing can have a positive impact on both your physical and mental health.
Research shows that a smile and a hearty chuckle can make you feel happier and more satisfied with your life through the release of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine in your body. These are the same chemicals that are released in your body after a good workout, or when you are in love.
However, it’s not only good for your mood, but good for your body. A grin and giggle can help by:
- Reducing the effects of stress
- Boosting your immunity
- Decreasing pain with natural pain relieving body chemicals
- Helping to prevent heart disease
- Assisting your short-term memory
In fact, a good, hard laugh relieves physical tension and stress by decreasing stress hormones and relaxing your muscles for up to 45 minutes after. An added benefit is the increase of infection-fighting antibodies and immune cells, which can help you fight off illness.
Additional studies have demonstrated that it may even help you to lose weight. So, although it may not cure everything, a laugh can contribute to great health, and will likely brighten someone else’s day also.
For your best smile, take a little time each day to brush, floss and take care of your teeth and gums, along with regular visits to the dentist.
If you are interested in finding out more about how Dr. Heidi Finkelstein at My Plantation Dentist can help you achieve a beautiful and healthy smile, please contact us today to schedule your appointment for an examination, at 954-584-1030.
