Pic credit: Maria Lucas
It’s the universal love language and your best beauty asset… your smile! Regardless of where you are in the world, a smile is understood and one of the first things someone notices about you. We are naturally drawn to people who smile and feel energised by giving and receiving smiles.
A smile not only radiates your inner beauty but studies have shown the multiple health benefits of smiling, including less stress, an elevated mood, a boost to the immune system, lower blood pressure and making you look younger. Smiling releases endorphins and serotonin, natural chemicals to relax our body and reduce physical pain – it’s said to have an impact on our overall wellbeing and longevity.
Pic credit: Jessica Rowe
We all want to look and feel our best so make the most of your natural smile with these tips!
Make oral hygiene a #1 priority
Ensure your mouth, teeth, lips and gums are in the best possible health with regular visits to the dentist and conscientious care at home. The mouth can be used as a barometer for other health issues so don’t forget to schedule 6-monthly professional check ups.
Remove stains
Poor mouth maintenance combined with excess tea, coffee and red wine fade our teeth. White, sparkling teeth will elevate any smile and with a raft of teeth whitening options available from supermarket toothpastes and mouthwashes to more sophisticated specialist devices.
Do it more often
Laughter really is the best medicine, so don’t take life too seriously or sweat the small stuff. Smile all day long, it takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown! Smiling is contagious, so make other people feel good. On average an adult only smiles 20 times a day versus children who smile 400 times a day! Smiling will flow more freely when we are relaxed and not tense or anxious.
Pic credit: The Golden Girls
A genuine smile is the best smile
A picture tells a thousand words and a fake smile is disingenuous. Be authentic with your smiles! Think of something happy or touching, a fond memory to reflect upon. Smiling is contagious, so make it the real deal.
Keep your lips smooth
Dry, chapped lips are uncomfortable and unsightly. Lips are deprived of sebaceous glands and more vulnerable to dehydration and the aggressive effects of the environment. Comfort lips by regularly exfoliating (try a dry toothbrush) and applying a nourishing lip balm to repair and protect the area. Use a balm with an SPF when outdoors.
Pic credit: Natalia
