Improve Your Mental Health with Your Dentist in Waterbury

Did you know there is power behind a beautiful smile? Attractive teeth are important for more than just feeling confident or influencing how others view you. In fact, research shows smiling more often can also impact your outlook on life. It boosts certain chemicals in your brain to produce positive emotions. Unfortunately, you may be among the one-third of adults who do not like their teeth, so you do not smile often. You can improve your mental health by getting the smile of your dreams with the help of your dentist in Waterbury.

3 Benefits of Smiling

The effects of smiling are powerful. Even if it is forced in an unpleasant situation, it can help you get through hard times because it influences your outlook on certain situations.

1. Reduced Stress

Smiling during a stressful situation helps to reduce your heart rate according to a study performed by Tara Kraft and Sarah Pressman. Participants were told to hold chopsticks in their mouths while trying to perform a variety of difficult activities. Those who held the chopsticks with a smiling expression had slower heart rates during the set of challenges than those who maintained a neutral expression. It is believed smiling increased levels of serotonin, which is a natural stress reducer for the brain.

2. Increased Happiness

Often, it is thought smiling is the result of happiness, but it may actually be the opposite. A neurologist found smiling produces a chemical reaction within the brain to produce dopamine. Higher levels of dopamine are thought to produce the feeling of happiness. By simply smiling during a stressful time, it can help you maintain a positive perception regarding what is going on around you.

3. Improved Pain Tolerance

Pain is no laughing matter; however, researches at the University of Oxford found smiling can increase your pain tolerance. The study involved participants watching humorous videos who developed an increased tolerance for pain when surrounded by others who were also laughing. It is thought that seeing others with happy expressions makes it easier to withstand pain.

Invest in a Beautiful Smile

If you are among those who avoid smiling because you are embarrassed about your teeth, your cosmetic dentist in Waterbury can help. Using customized solutions to transform your teeth, they will give you a confident smile you will want to show off. You can invest in your mental health by achieving getting the attractive teeth you have always wanted.

About Waterbury Smiles

Dr. Marini and Dr. Mancini strive to deliver personalized dental care you can trust. They take the time to get to know their patients to understand their goals and to create treatment plans catering to their individual needs. Besides general dentistry, they offer cosmetic services to enhance the aesthetics of your smile. They can help you improve your confidence and your quality of life by correcting your cosmetic flaws. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation for a smile transformation.