Do you need something to smile about? National Smile Day is coming up on Saturday, May 31, and it’s the perfect excuse to show off your pearly whites. You probably already know that smiling is a universal indication of friendliness across all cultures. But, you may not know that smiling also has real, research-backed health benefits. In addition to brightening another person’s day, here are some surprising ways smiling can improve your life, as well.
Smiling boosts mental health and mood. You know the old saying, “Fake it ‘till you make it?” Well, it has more merit than you might realize. According to a 2024 Live Science article, it appears that smiling can boost existing feelings of happiness. That shouldn’t surprise most people. However, the article goes on to explain that faking a smile may even create happiness when you’re feeling down! So, when you’re depressed, angry, or stressed out, forcing yourself to smile could help you feel a lot better.
A 2017 NBC News article written by Nicole Spector explains why smiling even when you don’t feel like it could improve your mood. In the article, Spector quotes ENT-otolaryngologist Dr. Murray Grossan, who explained that smiling can potentially trick your brain into thinking you’re genuinely happy. Dr. Grossan reportedly said, “When you smile, the brain sees the muscle [activity] and assumes that humor is happening.” It doesn’t seem to matter to the brain whether you smile because you’re truly happy or because you want to become happy. In either case – the end result is often a boost in mood.
While it’s making you happier, the act of smiling may also relieve stress and lower blood pressure. In a world that’s constantly connected and on the go, it’s becoming harder for many people to find peace and relaxation. Unfortunately, many experience excessive stress as a direct result of their overstimulated, bustling lives.
There isn’t a lot of cutting-edge research showing the effects of smiling on stress levels. However, older studies, including one published in the journal Psychological Science in 2012, report that smiling is associated with lower heart and blood pressure rates during stress recovery. That doesn’t mean you should ditch your prescribed blood pressure medication in favor of a plastered-on grin. It does, however, mean that smiling more frequently throughout the day could help you manage your stress and blood pressure levels better.
If you still aren’t convinced that you should smile more, consider the fact that the simple act of grinning could strengthen your immune system. According to Psychology Today, smiling lowers cortisol levels. Cortisol is also known as “the stress hormone” because it becomes elevated in response to stressors.
High cortisol can negatively impact immune function and increase your susceptibility to illness and infections. That’s one reason people tend to get sick while dealing with chronic or acute stress. Meditation and mindfulness are two highly-touted remedies for lowering stress. That being said, finding reasons to smile could also help.
If you’re feeling anxious and overwhelmed, try watching a comedy, talking to a friend, or engaging in another activity that makes you smile. Grinning may lower your cortisol levels and give your immune system a boost.
Now that you know some of the top health benefits of smiling, try to be more intentional about spreading the joy of your grin with yourself and others this National Smile Day. It won’t cost you a thing and requires very little effort. In addition to helping others feel happier, sharing your grin can boost your own physical and mental health. In a world where depression rates continue to reach new highs, the prospect of improved physical and mental health is truly something to smile about!
