Reading the news, you could be forgiven for thinking there’s not a lot to smile about at the moment, but even if you don't feel it, it could be worth giving it a go regardless.
In case you weren’t aware, May 16 marked the start of National Smile Month. Every year, the event aims to raise awareness of the importance of good oral health.
With NHS dentistry in crisis, leaving millions of people unable to find an NHS dentist at all, oral health is a particularly salient issue at the moment.
Now an expert has reminded us that smiling is actually great for oral health, with a range of potential benefits.
Dr Khaled Kasem, chief orthodontist at leading European orthodontics clinic Impress, reckons we should aim to smile for at least seven minutes a day, explaining: “The main benefit of smiling is that it reduces stress.”
“Our mouths are more damaged by stress than we might realise, as the added tension it puts on your muscles can lead to involuntary teeth clenching or grinding, leaving you susceptible to jaw issues and a whole host of other problems,” he added.
Smiling, Dr Kasem says, increases endorphins and lowers cortisol levels. So smiling when you feel stressed can leave you feeling considerably better.
He also noted that smiling can have potential immune benefits too, releasing dopamine and thereby boosting your immune system’s production of antibodies.
Dr Kasem observed that smiling and, in particular, laughing can lower your heart and respiratory rates and hence your blood pressure, adding that studies have linked poor oral health to high blood pressure.
But while smiling for just seven minutes a day, Dr Kasem was quick to point out that it takes more than just that to ensure good oral health - that takes regular brushing and flossing, too.
National Smile Month continues until June 16.
