Five Reasons Why You Should Be Smiling

People spend an enormous amount of time and an even greater amount of money these days worrying about their overall health. They spend an inordinate amount of time in the gym, try a variety of new dietary approaches, and have frequent visits to the doctor. Yet there is one component that they are missing – their smile. Don't overlook good dental hygiene and regular dental appointments as smiling has been proven to be one of the best ways to boost your mood, your health and well-being – and it's also free! Here are five reasons why smiling is so good for you.

Good for You

When you smile, the body automatically relaxes and the heart rate slows down. It's also been shown that smiling can reduce blood pressure during tests. Who wouldn't want to enjoy better heart health?

Boosts Your Mood

When you're feeling low what you really need is a positive flood of endorphins in your brain. Whenever you need to trigger release of this hormone, simply smile. This will help you to keep that stress in place and reset your mind to tackle the challenges ahead. If you feel overwhelmed when you are tackling a difficult task and feel like you want to give up, remember to smile. This can counteract any natural tendency to fight back against this stress inducer and can bring in the power of your subconscious mind in order to help you get through it all.

Helps You in the Workplace

Whenever you look at a photograph of somebody smiling, it automatically makes you feel better, doesn't it? Smiling can increase your productivity whenever you are working. There's a reason why some people keep photographs of their smiling children or better half on their desk. In addition, in customer service environments, a smile can be a significant earner. You can appear to be totally self-assured, confident and successful. You're far more likely to earn either extra tips or a raise from your boss.

Fosters Positive Relationships

Human beings are much more likely to trust others when they see a genuine smile. A smile can also be your best friend if somebody catches you doing something that you know you shouldn't be or that makes you feel embarrassed. It can naturally break the ice with the other person and can bring about an empathetic response, rather than something more negative.

Next time you are out and walking around in public, try this exercise. Smile at every stranger you encounter. You will notice that a majority of people will smile back. Consider this to be your gift to them as you are conveying the benefits of smiling to others.

Improves Your Appearance

Don't forget that when you smile, it can take years off your appearance. It will naturally lift the face, and remember that this is something many people spend thousands of dollars to achieve through facelifts!

Recreating Your Smile

Invest in your smile. If you're subconscious about the appearance of your teeth, this is where a cosmetic dentist can help you out so you will be able to reap the advantages of your smile in the future.