The following blog post is authored by Dr. Samuel Wakim, DDS, practice owner of Aspen Dental in Mishawaka, IN.

Put on a happy face… it’s National Smile Week!

As the universal sign of happiness and acceptance, smiling has an effect on your looks, mood, confidence and overall health.

There are many reasons to smile throughout the day, but did you know…

• Smiling is contagious! A study in Sweden found that people had difficulty frowning when looking at other subjects who were smiling. Their muscles twitched into smiles on their own!
• Smiling boosts your mood by releasing endorphins and serotonin.
• Studies show that someone who is smiling is more attractive than someone who is not smiling.
• Smiling can improve your overall health. Smiling helps the body produce larger quantities of antibodies and white blood cells which help to make your immune system more effective.
• There are 19 different types of smiles according to researchers at the University of California San Francisco. Most can be divided into two categories – “social smiles”, those that are polite and engage fewer muscles, and “felt smiles”, those that are sincere and use more muscles on both sides of the face.
• It is much easier to smile than to frown – frowning uses more muscles than smiling.

There are 19 different types of smiles according to researchers at the University of California San Francisco. Most can be divided into two categories – “social smiles”, those that are polite and engage fewer muscles, and “felt smiles”, those that are sincere and use more muscles on both sides of the face.

It is much easier to smile than to frown – frowning uses more muscles than smiling.

While bowing, handshakes and hugs have different meanings across the world, you can count on a smile as the universal sign for happiness and acceptance. What motivates you to flash your pearly whites? Take a look at what some of my Aspen Dental peers shared about what makes them smile on Aspen Dental’s Facebook wall.

So what are some tips to keep a confident, healthy smile?

• Ask your dentist about teeth whitening options. Teeth whitening may be a safe, effective and affordable way to boost your smile confidence.
• Drop the tobacco – tobacco stains your teeth.
• Chew crunchy fruits and vegetables that service as nature’s toothbrush and clean stains and plaque from teeth.
• And as always, it’s important to brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss at least once a day and visit your dentist at least twice a year.

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