Fact Checked

The Mental Health Benefits of Smiling

Written by Fernanda Elizalde

February 28, 2023

Medically Reviewed

By Dr. Greg Grillo, DDS

We all love the simple things like smiles and laughter in life, and our smiling and laughing have far more significant benefits than we think. According to human behavior studies, both have several advantages, including improved mental and physical health, improved social lives, and even longer lifespans.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SMILING?

According to research, children smile 400 times per day on average, compared to the average cheerful adult who smiles 40-50 times per day and the ordinary adult who only smiles 20 times per day.

Why is it such an important point to smile? Smiling not only improves our happiness, but even just one smile also helps our bodies release cortisol and endorphins, both of which have several health advantages, including:

YOU'RE EASIER TO APPROACH

Research shows smiling at others has advantages. You've probably heard that laughing spreads. The Duchenne smile (named after French neurologist Guillaume Duchenne), which is the natural smile that reaches your eyes, is genuine and makes people feel at ease, making them more likely to smile.

This response in the brain, automatically priming us to smile or laugh, provides a way of mirroring the behavior of others, something which helps us interact socially. It can potentially play a vital role in fostering strong ties among group members.

This implies that when you smile or laugh, your positivity will be mirrored back to you, allowing you to establish relationships and foster positivity.

YOU WILL LIVE A LONGER LIFE

The most compelling reason to smile is that it may help you live longer. According to one study, sincere, strong smiling is associated with a longer life.

More research is needed to understand why happy individuals appear to have greater health and lifespan. Happiness may enhance longevity by years, implying that a joyful attitude may be essential to a healthy lifestyle.

STRESS IS RELIEVED BY SMILING

Stress may permeate our entire existence, including our faces and expressions. Smiling not only helps us avoid seeming tired, worn down, and stressed, but it can also assist in reducing stress.

Believe it or not, smiling may alleviate stress and help you feel happier even if you don't feel like it. You can fake it with a phony grin, which will still reduce feelings of stress.

When you're feeling anxious, consider putting on a fake smile, which may boost your mood and capacity to deal with the stress you're going through.

YOU HAVE MORE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS

A warm smile brings good vibes and makes others feel happy. Laughter and smiling foster camaraderie and aid in the formation of social relationships.

Laughter has been linked to emotional well-being in partnerships. In a 2015 psychology study, psychologists videotaped 71 amorous couples discussing their first meeting. They discovered that the quantity of time spent concurrently laughing was related to relationship quality, proximity, and social support.

Simply put, laughter deepens connections.

SMILING IMPROVES MOOD

Smiling can also help you feel better. Try smiling the next time you're feeling depressed. There's a strong probability that your mood will improve.

Smiling stimulates pathways in your brain that impact your emotional state, which means you may "trick" your mind into entering a state of happiness by adopting a cheerful facial expression.

This effect works to help you feel good whether your smile is genuine or not.

A simple smile can cause neuropeptides to be released, which improves brain connectivity. It also causes neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin to be released, which can improve your mood. Consider smiling to be a natural antidepressant.

SMILING SPREADS LIKE WILDFIRE

How many times have you heard that a single smile can light up a room? While it is a lovely sentiment, it also has a grain of truth.

Smiling not only improves your happiness, but it may also improve the emotions of others.

Your brain instinctively detects and analyzes other people's facial expressions; you may even copy them sometimes. As a result, you may see someone else's smile and catch a smile yourself.

YOU'RE A MORE PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYEE

Happiness at work is closely correlated with more outstanding performance and productivity, greater energy, better reviews, faster promotion, higher income, better health, and increased happiness with life, according to author Jessica Pryce-Jones in her book 'Happiness at Work.

Pryce-Jones and her colleagues conducted a study that showed that the happiest workers were more productive. She included data from 3,000 persons across 79 countries. Happy employees were 180% more motivated and 15% more satisfied. They spent 80% of their week on work-related chores, compared to 40% for unsatisfied peers.

Because many of us spend much of our lives at our workplace, feeling productive and joyful is essential. As a result, more cheer at work is advantageous.

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SMILING STRENGTHENS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Smiling can also improve your general health by allowing your immune system to work more efficiently. Immune function is supposed to enhance when you smile because you are more calm thanks to the release of certain neurotransmitters.

Smiling may help you maintain general health or enhance your immune system in preparation for cold and flu season. Avoiding disease and maintaining a healthy lifestyle might also help you feel less stressed.

SMILING HAS THE POTENTIAL TO LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

Smiling may have a positive effect on your blood pressure. Laughter, in particular, appears to drop blood pressure after producing an increase in heart rate and respiration.

While smiling has been demonstrated to lower your heart rate in stressful situations, further research is needed to establish how it may lower blood pressure.

SMILING ALLEVIATES PAIN

Smiling has been found to release endorphins, other natural analgesics, and serotonin.

These brain chemicals, when combined, increase positive emotions. They not only improve your mood, but they also relax your body and relieve physical discomfort. Another of the many benefits of smiling is a natural sedative.

SMILING INDICATES SUCCESS

People with a smile every day look more confident, are more likely to be promoted and are more likely to be contacted.

Try smiling at meetings and business engagements. You may notice that others behave differently to you.

HOW CAN I INCREASE MY LAUGHTER AND SMILE?

If all of these smile advantages have you wondering how you may assist yourself laugh and smile more, there are several options. Here are a few ways you might do to bring more laughter and smiles into your life:

Force a fake smile: Because even a phony grin may boost your happiness, smiling is the first step toward happiness even when you don't feel like it.

Find comedy: If you're feeling sad or simply notice that you haven't laughed in a while, watch a fun movie, read some jokes, or seek a humor boost in any method that suits you.

Engage with others: We are trained to laugh and smile more when we are among others. Spend time with friends that force you to do both regularly.

Laugh at yourself: It's all about how you approach things in life. Even if you're having a bad day, search for the positive or the comedy, which will positively influence your perspective, health, and general quality of life.

WHITEN YOUR TEETH TO MAKE SMILING MORE APPEALING

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CONCLUSION

Smile and the whole world smiles with you! There is no more straightforward way to make yourself happier and those around you than a simple and free smile. So start making the world a better and smile at someone near you today.

FAQS

WHAT CAN SMILING MEAN?

Smiles are also used to comfort people, be courteous, and convey trustworthiness, belonging, and good intentions. Smiles like this serve as social connectors.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SMILING?

Smiling not only improves our happiness but also helps our bodies release cortisol and endorphins, both of which have various health advantages.

WHAT ARE THE 3 TYPES OF SMILES?

Smiles are classified into three types: incentive smiles, affiliation smiles, and dominance smiles. A smile is one of the most natural and uncomplicated expressions, requiring only the lifting of a few facial muscles.

DOES SMILING MEAN HAPPINESS?

A recent Brighton and Sussex Medical School study shows that smiling does not always signal happiness (BSMS). It is often assumed that smiling indicates happiness, frequently occurring when a person is engaged with another person or group of people.

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