We’ve all heard it before: smiling is good for you. It’s a simple enough claim, and one that makes a lot of sense. After all, smiles are generally viewed as a universal expression of happiness or joy. But smiling - although a simple action - holds immense power! It has the ability to instantly alter your mood, or that of another person. It’s also known to be an instant boost for self-esteem, and can significantly affect emotions. What’s more, smiling - combined with other actions, such as positive thinking - can work wonders for a person’s well-being.

Many people feel they can use a boost at some point during their day, whether it has to do with emotions, mood, or energy level - and smiling happens to be one of the quickest, simplest, and most effective ways to provide that boost.

While many people consider smiling as a result of feeling good, psychological studies have found the opposite is also true: that smiling - even if you’re feeling down - has the ability to instantly change your mood for the better. That’s because facial expressions provide feedback to the left frontal cortex of your brain - the area where happiness is registered; which in turn affects emotions and behaviour.

Smiling also has a massive impact on confidence, and is an important part of connecting with others. Much of the time, we’re drawn in to - and enjoy the company of - those who smile. So by smiling, an individual instantly increases their ability to connect with others - consequently affecting self-esteem. There’s also much to be said for the affect of one’s smiles on another human; whether you see a friend or a complete stranger smile, the simple gesture is more than likely to have a positive affect on you.

Finally, when you combine smiling with other actions - such as breathing or positive thinking - you can significantly enhance the positive affects of smiling. If you’re feeling down or need a boost, try smiling and thinking positive thoughts. And if you’re feeling especially tired, take a couple minutes to take some deep breathes. These simple exercises can quickly boost your moral, and they can be done anytime and anywhere to instantly make you feel better.

Of course, there are many people who love to smile, but who are self-conscious about doing so because of dental conditions or issues. For instance, people with stained or yellowed teeth might be self-conscious about showing them - even if they like to smile. So instead of showing their teeth, these people tend to grin without parting their lips.

But there’s no need to restrict one’s own smile. A simple procedure such as teeth whitening can help remedy such a situation, enabling a confident, unrestricted smile.

So whether you’re feeling down or happy, smile! It’s good for your mood, emotions, and well-being – not to mention for those around you.