A Smile is the Gift That Keeps on Giving: Are You Paying it Forward?

Gift a Stranger with a Smile This Holiday Season and Beyond.

The holiday season is a time for reflection, quality time with your loved ones and setting goals for the new year ahead. Whether you’re shopping around for gifts, traveling halfway across the globe for a holiday getaway or simply relaxing at home, the very essence of the holiday season lies in spreading kindness to one another. What better way to spread that kindness than with a smile?

The good news is that you don’t needn’t spend any money to spread this gift around. So, whenever you’re presented with the opportunity to flash a smile someone’s way, think of the following perks that come with it.

A smile is contagious

Ever see someone sporting a wide grin and suddenly feel the corners of your lips pulling up into a similar expression? It’s because our smiles are contagious.Studies have actually shown that seeing someone smile activates the part of your brain that promotes facial movement. Not only does it cause us to mimic this positive expression, but others will see our smile and feel compelled (both emotionally and psychologically) to do the same. This holiday season, gift a stranger with a smile and be a part of this positive chain reaction.

Others will appreciate the gesture

We all have burdens we carry around with us. Whether it’s a busy schedule or a more personal worry, encouraging each other through a simple smile is enough to help lessen that burden, even if for a little while. Our team at Beaufils Dental has seen its fair share of patients with busy schedules and little time to relax in the dental chair (yes, it’s possible to relax while at the dentist). We’ve seen how a simple smile can increase a patient’s comfort during their visit and, subsequently, brighten the rest of their day.

A smile reduces stress and anxiety

Stress and anxiety can be major mood killers. Not only do they affect our outlook on life, but these emotions can be detrimental towards our ability to perform and focus on everyday functions. Studies have shown that stress affects our bodies on a cellular level. A positive action, such as smile, can reduce the rigidness of our cells and the development of stress-driven cell mutations–the very mutations that trigger several cancers. Smiling can even help reduce blood pressure, promoting a more relaxed body and mind. For those who fear the possibility of pain during a dental procedure, did you know smiling can also reduce the feeling of pain and aggression?

A smile increases overall happiness

Even a forced smile can do wonders for one’s level of happiness. A smile triggers an area of the brain that associates with reward. This trigger releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter that sparks a feeling of happiness. And because we’ve already established that smiling is contagious, think of how many others this will trigger to do return the gesture. Whether you’re stuck in traffic, drowning in work or waiting on the dental chair, a few seconds of grinning can instantly boost your emotions for the better. The holiday season is all about spreading cheer, and a smile is something we can all use to keep that cheer alive.

Your Smile is a Precious Gift. Treat it well.

So, we’ve seen how powerful of an impact a simple smile can have on us and others; why not treat it with the care it deserves? We like to remind our Cooper City clients that maintaining a healthy smile involves regular visits to the dentist. After all, after seeing the results of proper dental care, you’ll be paying it forward with a brilliantly white smile year-round. Contact our Cooper City dental office today at 954-252-1390 to schedule your appointment. We’ll be waiting for you with a smile of our own.