The Psychology Behind Why a Healthy Smile Is Contagious

Growing up, your parents and grandparents always tell you to put a smile on your face when you’re looking sad or upset because it’ll make you feel better. You probably thought they were insane; however, there’s some truth to this idea.

Not only does a good smile make you more appealing and approachable to those around you, but it’s also transmissible to other people! Discover the psychology behind why a healthy smile is contagious.

Brain Party!

Your brain throws a little party each time you smile. It also releases the neurotransmitters that influence your mood—serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins—when you slap a smile on your face. This release brings you some happiness and lowers your heart rate and blood pressure.

Ultimately, slapping a smile on your face has the same effect as taking a pain reliever or anti-depressant without the prescription or nasty side effects.

Mirror, Mirror

The psychology behind why a healthy smile is contagious is actually simple. The cingulate cortex deals with emotional response, facial expressions, and mirroring. Mirroring is an automatic and unconscious reaction to smile when you see someone else do it.

Therefore, if you smile at someone and they don’t smile back, it’s likely they’re consciously making an effort to hold it back.

Fake It ‘Til You Make It

Even if you’re having a terrible day and you feel down, making the conscious effort to laugh can turn your mood around pretty quickly. You might have to put a fake smile on your face for a while, but eventually, it’ll turn into a genuine one.

Also, your fake grin might work wonders for others around you by forcing them to smile when they’re having a bad day.

If you’re worried that your child isn’t smiling enough because they lack confidence in their teeth, our team at Luna can help. We are a pediatric dentist in Richmond, TX, that can help keep your child’s smile in tip-top shape!