As a local Guelph Dentist Office, we know just how important smiles are. To celebrate World Smile Day this Friday October 6th, our office wants to share some facts about smiles, oral health and ways that you can share kindness.
Did you know that there’s a World Smile Day?
The creator of the Smiley Face symbol, Harvey Ball, created the icon in 1963, but became worried that marketers were overusing the smiley face without thinking of the impact. To celebrate the importance of a smile and doing acts of kindness, Ball’s idea to create a day dedicated to smiling and acts of kindness, was created. World Smile Day falls on the first Friday of October each year, and everyone is encouraged to do an act of kindness to help someone out, and of course, SMILE!
Some Quick Facts About Smiles
1) Smiling is One of the Most Universally Known Expressions
Although each culture has its own expressions, smiling is one of the most commonly understood worldwide expressions. While you would think smiling is straightforward, there are actually different types of smiles according to research. The slight variations in smiles can tell you everything from if someone is genuinely happy, to if someone is smiling to encourage you to keep talking, to smiles that people use when they are feeling particularly negative.
2) Science Says That Smiling Is Good For You!
Yes, it’s true. A smile can have a lot of benefits and science has uncovered some reasons it’s good for you. By smiling, your body releases neurotransmitters, endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, which make you happier and can reduce stress levels and high blood pressure. Smiling also sends signals to your brain that says you are feeling good, even if the smile isn’t genuine.
3) Smiles are Contagious, So Keep Smiling!
Have you ever smiled to someone as you’re walking past them, and they’ve smiled back? That’s because the brain’s cingulate cortex, sends an unconscious response that makes people mimic smiles. So the more you smile at people around you, they will likely smile back without fully realizing it…that is, unless they are upset with you! If you want to brighten someone’s day and make them smile, all you need to do is smile at them first
4) Babies Are Born With the Ability To Smile, But It’s a Reflex
While babies aren’t born with teeth to show when they smile, they do have the ability to smile. The difference between a baby’s smile and an adult’s smile (besides the teeth) is that babies smile as a reflex, whereas most adults smile to convey an emotion or out of mimicry. According to science, babies lose their reflex smile around 2 months old and start giving genuine smiles when they hear or see something that gives them happiness. Parents can see their baby’s emotion and the response time to gauge when the real smiles are beginning!
5) People Who Smile More Have Social Benefits
People who smile when they initially meet new people, come off as much more likeable and warm than those who don’t smile. Studies have shown that within the first 7 seconds of meeting a person, you instinctively decide whether or not you like them. So if you’re meeting someone for the first time, it’s a good idea to smile when you do!
>A Guelph Dentist Office That Cares About Your Smile
Now that you know why smiles are important, you need to take the right steps to ensure your smile is healthy!
Just like smiling begins at a young age, so should regular oral health routines. By the age of 2 or 3, children need to begin brushing with fluoride toothpaste to help their tooth enamel stay strong as they grow. Keep in mind, babies do not need as much toothpaste on their brush as adults and should not be left alone during the brushing process.
When your infant begins growing in teeth, it’s a good indication to come into our Guelph Dentist Office and see Dr. Nancy Wat. These early visits help children familiarize with the dentist office, and it helps dentists discover if there are any early indications of oral health problems.
As your child grows, make sure to encourage a good oral hygiene. With the amount of sugar in food and drinks, it’s important that children, teens, and young adults take the time to brush their teeth twice a day and floss. By brushing and flossing from a young age, enamel is not eroded and plaque does not have the opportunity to build as quickly.
But sometimes, even with good oral health, there are oral health problems that can pop up. It is important that children, teens and adults visit our Guelph Dentist Office for Dental Cleanings and Complete Oral Examinations as suggested by Dr. Wat. Often, a Complete Oral Examination will uncover oral health problems that can affect a person’s smile—such as deep cavities, impacted wisdom teeth, and even staining of teeth.
At Stonegate Dental, we know that smiles go beyond the surface, which is why we check in on what’s happening with your teeth below the surface. To do this, we take X-Rays of the mouth and jaw area. With new patients, we like to get an X-Ray as soon as possible so we can uncover any underlying problems. For patients that have been coming to our Guelph Dentist Office for a while, we encourage getting X-Rays every few years so we can monitor oral health. For some patients that are already experiencing oral health problems beyond the surface and are receiving extra dental treatments, we may request X-Rays more often to see how dental treatments are progressing.
To learn more about how our Guelph Dentist Office keeps your smile healthy and beautiful, please contact our office to book an appointment. And on World Smile Day, help do a random act of kindness by smiling at everyone you see. You’ll be surprised at just how many smiles you’ll receive back, with your healthy, happy, teeth!
