The Psychology Behind Preferring Not to Smile

Facial expressions are powerful enough to impact our moods and emotions. A smile, even if it’s fake, can still release endorphins and boost your mood. Having a happier mood improves heart health, strengthens the immune system, and increases longevity. Most evidence about smiling suggests that it truly does improve our lives. 

Why Some People Prefer Not to Smile 

Americans enjoy sharing smiles more than people in any other country. Inc. magazine theorized that this is because our country provides relative stability, allowing us to feel more relaxed about life and more readily willing to smile at one another. However, some people prefer not to smile. Below are a few reasons why: 

• Smart Phones – Smart phones make you less friendly and much less likely to interact with others in social situations. Spending time looking at your phone reduces the amount of eye contact and smiles with others. Smart phones have been proven to distract you from the present moment and can make relationships more difficult. 
• Personal Preferences – Some people simply aren’t prone to smiling. They may be shy, have self-esteem problems, or they may just not feel the need to offer smiles. Additionally, they may have been raised in cultures or families where smiling isn’t as frequent or easily offered. 
• Substance Abuse – Drug use can ruin lives in many ways, but it has a significant detrimental impact on oral health. Even once an addiction is overcome, damage to the teeth will remain. This can cause frustration and even backsliding in recovery. When individuals received dental treatment after addiction, they were much more likely to complete substance abuse treatment and stay sober! 
• Oral Health Problems – Lastly, if you’re confident in your smile, you’re much more likely to show it off! It’s been shown that children as young as 4 years old are sensitive about the appearance of their smiles and may use their hands to cover a smile or will smile less than children with better oral health. 

Here at Auburn Family Dental, we’re passionate about making our patients happy and confident with their smiles. We hope that a trip to our office puts a smile on your face from our exceptional Wichita dental care! For more information or to make an appointment, please contact my dentist Wichita, KS family dental office today. 

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