How Does Smiling Decrease Stress?

Smiling is usually done when you’re feeling joyful or find something amusing. But did you know that there are many benefits to smiling that can improve your quality of life? Not only does it reduce your stress, but it can boost your immune system and change your mood for the better. Your cosmetic dentist shares the benefits of putting on a grin and what you can do to feel more confident about your smile.

What Are the Benefits of Smiling?

• Decreases Stress Levels: When you put on a smile, it can actually relieve your stress response and cause you to have a lower heartrate in tense environments. Most people who are under stressful situations would naturally have a neutral expression. By putting on a smile, you can actually trick your brain into being more relaxed.

• Improves Your Mood: For the same reasons that smiling reduces stress, you can also smile to essentially “trick” your body into being happier. The works for you and the people around you. As they say, smiling is contagious!

• It Makes You Healthier: When your relaxation levels increase, your immune system function improves, keeping you healthy. It also helps to lower your blood pressure, essentially leading to a reduced risk of heart disease.

How Can I Feel More Confident About My Smile?

Many people feel self-conscious about their smile, so they are less inclined to do it often. By having a smile makeover, you can increase your confidence and show off your perfected teeth more often. There are many different services that can be included into a full smile makeover. Here are some of the most common:

• Invisalign: Clear aligners are a great teeth straightening option, especially for adults who don’t want to have visible metal brackets and wires attached to their teeth. They don’t limit your ability to eat your favorite foods and are practically invisible.

• Teeth Whitening: In-office teeth whitening is the most effective way to brighten up your smile. When you use over the counter options, you often hardly see a difference. When you get the treatment done by your dentist, you can see results in just one single visit!

• Tooth-Colored Fillings: Do you have dark, metal fillings that take away from the whiteness of your smile? Your dentist can replace these with tooth colored fillings. They aren’t noticeable and don’t contain toxic materials like mercury.

• Porcelain Veneers: Veneers are a favorite for celebrities. This is because they can fix a variety of issues and are custom made for your individual needs. They are a great solution for chipped, discolored, irregularly shaped, and gapped teeth.

By getting the smile you’ve always wanted, you will have no trouble showing it off. By doing this, you can reap the many health benefits and improve your overall quality of life.

About the Author

Dr. Nancy Dysinger is a cosmetic dentist serving the McComb area. She earned her DDS at The Ohio State University and has gained well over 30 years of experience. She regularly takes continuing education courses and maintains memberships with professional organizations like the American Dental Association and the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Dysinger and her team offer smile makeovers as one of their many services. For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit her website or call (419) 293-2335.