Let’s try an experiment. Think of something happy. Whether it be something that happened to you or maybe even a YouTube video of a super adorable baby/puppy/kitten, hold it at the forefront of your thoughts for a few moments.

You’re smiling, aren’t you? There’s a scientific reason behind your smiles!

The Science of Smiling

When we are in pleasant situations, our brains feel happy, which triggers the release of endorphins. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that naturally help to lift your mood. Smiling stimulates our brains to produce endorphins, literally helping to make us feel happier.

“Fake It Until You Make It”

The aphorism suggests that if you face a situation with an optimistic view and imitate confidence, you can actually realize that quality. There is some truth, actually a scientific basis for this saying. Smiles function as a positive feedback loop: when we feel happy, we smile; when we smile, we feel happier.

Smile! It’s Good for Your Health.

Scientists have found that smiles influence your body’s response to stress, literally helping to lower blood pressure in response to stressful situations faced with a smile.

Smiling is Contagious

“When you’re smilin’, keep on smilin’, the whole world smiles with you,” Louis Armstrong sang. And it’s true! Seeing other people smile stimulates mirror neurons in our brains to mimic the expression.

Dr. Ward and the team at Middletown Commons Family Dental all want you to unlock the superpowers of your smile. Our friendly neighborhood dental office is proud to have lots of options to help you get a healthy smile you can feel proud about!

• If your teeth are less straight than you would like, Dr. Ward is certified in Six Month Smiles^®, and Invisalign^®. These cosmetic options can help get your smile on track!
• We offer a variety of restorative dental services to address a wide range of situations from cracked teeth to missing teeth.
• Do you feel that your teeth aren’t quite deserving of the “pearly white” handle? You don’t have to settle for a stained, yellowish smile. Middletown Commons Family Dental offers KöR^® teeth whitening. Professional teeth whitening will give you better results than over-the-counter options, and they’ll last longer too!