At Maplewood Dental Associates, our mission is to help people achieve healthy, beautiful smiles and maintain them for a lifetime. And as we've seen time and time again with our patients, a healthy smile is about more than just physical health: it can bring big benefits to mental health, as well. In fact, just the act of smiling can make you happier! As your dentist in Maplewood, MN, we'd like to take some time to dive into how smiling can make you happier no matter what you're dealing with.
How Smiling Affects Happiness
Usually, we think of smiling as an effect of being happy: we feel happy inside, so we smile on the outside. But according to research, it's more of a two-way street than we realize. The simple, physiological act of smiling triggers a reduction of stress-causing hormones like cortisol and stimulates the production of other hormones that lift moods. Smiling can also help to lessen physical pain, and research has shown that even faking a smile can still deliver these mood-enhancing benefits. Plus, smiles truly are contagious: we subconsciously mirror the facial expressions of others, so smiling can have a benefit to the people around you, as well!
Schedule a Consultation with Your Mapleton Dentist
Smiling can have a direct positive impact on our mental well-being, and if there's one thing we've learned from our patients, it's that you smile more when you have a smile you're proud to show off. That's where we come in. Want to see how we can help you achieve a healthier, more beautiful smile so you can reap the rewards of smiling more in your own life? Take the first step and contact us to schedule a consultation today!