Say “Cheese” for National Smile Month

It’s National Smile Month, and dentists are in the smile business. If our team at Snow Park Dental does the job right, all of our patients will be able to smile confidently. All it takes is attaining and maintaining the smile of your dreams. Not only is this great for your confidence, but you can elevate your mood with the endorphins which flood through your body when you smile. You can even expect better relationships and more career success when your smile is on point. No wonder an entire month has been dedicated to the ever-important human smile.

Genuine Smiles

Political races are starting to heat up in our country. The next time you flip on a news station, pay attention to politicians as they make a speech or answer interview questions. They may stop several times throughout and flash a very broad, but possibly fake-looking smile at their audience. Public speakers of all sorts are trained to smile during speeches. Even if a smile is not felt or genuine, any type of smile will elicit endorphins. A French anatomist by the name of Guillaume Duchenne was among the first scientists who thought to categorize smile types. He also linked these categories of smiling to the emotions they represented. Duchenne pinpointed an important highlight of genuine smiles – the orbicularis oculi. These muscles are around your eyes and become stimulated when you flash an organically felt grin.

Successful Smiles

More recent research studies on smiling agree with Duchenne’s earlier work. If you flashed a felt smile in your high school yearbook photo, you are more likely to have higher rates of marital success, heightened overall well-being, better health, and more impressive career success. According to some research, the odds of surviving into their 50s and beyond are 50% higher for those who exhibit felt smiles throughout their lives. In fact, Charles Darwin speculated that people’s smiles are a learned habit that has evolved in humanity for the purpose of attracting others to us.

About your Albuquereque, Nm Dentist

At Snow Park Dental, Dr. Miller provides the preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dental care you need to help you enjoy optimal oral health and a beautiful smile. Contact us today at (505) 596-4479 to schedule a consultation or appointment at our Albuquerque, NM dentist’s office. We proudly serve families from Rio Rancho, Corrales, Edgewood, Tijeras, Los Lunas, and surrounding communities.

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