Smiling is an ability that everyone is born with. Babies are able to smile at those who they are the closest with by two months old. However, a smile is more than just an ability people are born with. It is also an ability that comes with many psychological and physical health benefits.

Physical Benefits of Smiling

Those who smile experience a drop in their blood pressure. Those who are suffering from pain are less likely to experience it when they smile. You're more likely to live longer, and you'll also see a boost in your immune system.

Emotional Benefits of Smiling

Those who smile have also been found to feel in a better mood. Smiling can reduce stress and causes the individual to be less likely to suffer from depression. 

Why You Aren't Smiling Enough

If you are often not smiling, one reason may be that you're concerned with missing teeth, stains, crooked teeth or bad breath. If you are not happy with your smile, you may also feel lower self-esteem, and this may make you less likely to smile. The best way to solve this problem is with a trip to a cosmetic dentistry office.

Through a thorough teeth cleaning and whitening procedure, you will be able to remove your stains. Crooked teeth can be solved through braces.

If you are missing teeth, you may need a bridge, dentures, or a dental implant. Whenever the cause, there is a way to fix it.

Getting Into the Habit of Smiling

If you are happy with your teeth, you might just need more practice smiling. Spend some time in front of the mirror practicing smiling until you are able to smile in a way that feels natural to you.

Try to remember how your face feels with that type of smile and repeat that expression. Even if you don't feel happy, smiling can affect your mood and make you feel happier. 

Then, try to make it a habit to smile whenever you can. When greeting others, try to make more of a habit to smile and you'll get along better with others.

Lifting Your Mood

If you are still having a difficult time smiling, think of an event that made you happy or think of a person you love. Often, in the day-to-day grind, it can be easy to lose touch with all the things you have to be happy about.