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A Smile Is Worth 1,000 Words

Feb 23, 2021
A Smile Is Worth 1,000 Words
Your smile speaks louder than words. It’s long been said that a smile is worth a thousand words. Indeed, this is undoubtedly true. Just think of the reaction you experience when someone smiles at you...

Your smile speaks louder than words.

It’s long been said that a smile is worth a thousand words. Indeed, this is undoubtedly true. Just think of the reaction you experience when someone smiles at you, when your child smiles at you, or when you return a smile to your child. A smile between a parent and child makes the child feel safe and secure. And as a doting parent, your child’s smile to you makes you boast with pride.

What about when a potential candidate for dating smiles at you? The natural reaction is to feel giddiness and a special feeling that only those who have experienced love or attraction can describe. The truth is a smile holds meaning in so many ways. But most importantly, a smile demonstrates to others that you are confident, welcoming, and kind. Your smile is what encourages people to approach you and start a conversation.

With a smile being so crucial to the human species, we thought we would take some time to share some surprising smile facts with you. You may have read some of these smile facts before, but we hope a few will be new to you and will make you smile. By the end of this article, we’re sure you, too, will understand why a smile is indeed worth a thousand words.

10 Surprising Facts About Smiles

  1. A smile is the first facial expression we cast after we are born. Contrary to what people used to say, babies are born with the ability to smile, not just because they are experiencing gas or experimenting with their faces.
  2. A smile is more contagious than the flu (or coronavirus). However, the difference with the smile contagion is that it is good for your health to catch it. Acquiring a smile can strengthen your immune system, increase your endurance, and reduce your blood pressure, stress, and pain. So even with the need for social distance during this pandemic, don’t hesitate to hop on a Zoom call and share some smiles. We all could use more of them right now.
  3. Chocolate lovers beware because smiling is better than chocolate. Ron Gutman, the author of the 2011 book titled Smile: The Astonishing Powers of a Simple Act, stated that one smile can generate the same level of brain stimulation as up to 2,000 bars of chocolate.
  4. Though theories vary, we can safely estimate that there are nine different types of smiles. However, most notable are the three basic types of smiles identified by New York psychiatrist Leonard Rubin back in 1974. The Mona Lisa smile affects about two-thirds of people and happens when the corners of the mouth rise and shift outward so the upper teeth are exposed. Those with the canine smile, just over 30% of the population, expose their canine teeth. And the remainder of people have a less common smile type where the lips are pulled back so that the upper and lower rows of teeth are exposed. This smile is called the full dentured smile, as it reveals so many of your teeth.
  5. Smiling burns more calories than frowning. Think about it. When you are at rest, your face tends to relax, letting those cheeks fall so that a frown results. It takes physical effort to smile (unless you’re reacting to something happy), and it works the muscles. So, bring out that smile, bust out a laugh or two along the way, and burn some calories while you do it.
  6. Smiling can make you look younger and thinner and demonstrate to others that you are courteous, likable, and competent. With benefits like that, who wouldn’t want to flash a smile at all waking hours of the day?
  7. Dental implants can improve your smile if you have experienced tooth loss. In fact, dental implants, otherwise known as tooth implants, are an excellent alternative to dentures and fit perfectly with your natural teeth. Your dentist can work with you to determine your candidacy for dental implants.
  8. Cosmetic dentists are your go-to partner if you need help with your smile. In addition to dental implants, there are several other procedures that can give you a healthier smileDental crowns and bridges, Invisalign, and even root canals can help improve your smile and boost your mood.
  9. Speaking of mood, your smile provides a natural boost to your energy and confidence. Studies suggest that smiling seriously influences how you see the world. If you’ve never heard the phrase, “Fake it until you make it,” now is the time to consider it. In a world where we are faced with numerous stresses and obstacles, it can sometimes be challenging to remember the beauty that’s all around us. So if you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, jump-start your day by putting a happy smile on your face. Before long, you might catch your own smile. Talk about contagious!
  10. Smiling can help you live longer. If it isn’t evident from the points up until this one, smiling is good for us for so many reasons. Thus, it stands to reason that a smile is good for our overall health and can help us live longer lives. Smiles have a direct correlation with happiness. And satisfaction is more common in those who live a life of optimism. Optimism is strongly associated with reduced risk of heart disease and stroke and improved lung capacity and function.

A smile makeover is only a phone call away.

If you are ready to improve your smile, the first step is to contact your Reading, MA, cosmetic dentist to discuss your options. Give the First Dental Associates team a call at (781) 202-5612 or request an appointment online. Dr. Sadeghi, Dr. Singh, and Dr. Tang understand smile psychology and are ready to help you feel better about yourself by bringing out your beautiful smile.

Now, how convenient is it that this article is just over a thousand words? We think you’ll agree that a great smile is worth a thousand words and more. So what are you waiting for?