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MCC Daily Tribune

National Smile Day

Wear your best smile to this party as we celebrate National Smile Day every year on May 31. Founded by dentists Dr. Tim Stirneman and Jim Wojdyla of Compassionate Dental Care in Lake in the Hills, Illinois, this day is meant to, you guessed it, “Share with the world what the power of a healthy smile can do!” The best part, this day heralds the beginning of National Smile Month!

HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL SMILE DAY

  1. Smile!

    The best way to celebrate this day dedicated to smiling is to smile, of course! Spread some good cheer around and grace another person with your smile. We often don't realize that we wear a frown for most of the day. Share a smile with someone just for a moment and see the difference it makes in your everyday interactions.

  2. Make someone else smile

    Do one thing to bring a smile to someone else’s face. Start small (tell them a joke) or go big (volunteer at a children’s home). Whatever you choose, cherish the feeling of being able to light up someone’s life, and keep bringing smiles to everyone you meet.

  3. Visit your dentist

    Since this day was created by dentists, delight yours by giving them a visit. Go for a dental checkup to make sure your smile is in tip-top shape.

5 FUN FACTS ABOUT SMILING

  1. Smiling is less taxing than frowning

    It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile.

  2. Babies are better at smiling than you are

    Babies smile about 400 times a day, while, on average, adults only smile about 20 times.

  3. Babies can fake it too!

    At only nine or 10 months of age, babies have learned to offer fake smiles to strangers, reserving real smiles and laughter for people they are comfortable with.

  4. We know when a smile is fake

    Our brains have evolved to such an extent that we can see a fake smile a mile away — also, our brains automatically mimic the smile we see, which means we give a fake smile for a fake smile.

  5. Laughing for the heck of it

    A study on why people laugh found that 80-90% of all laughter is in response to simple statements like “It was nice meeting you”, or “I’ll see you later.”

WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL SMILE DAY

  1. Smiles hold power!

    Not only do they automatically make you feel good (yes, even fake smiles!), but they also create a temporary bond between the people sharing a smile. Data shows that over time, smiles can increase productivity and creativity in workers, and make people seem more competent and trustworthy.

  2. Smiles have health benefits too

    The more we smile, the healthier our brains become. This is because smiles make us happy, thus reducing stress. Smiles are also known to reduce our blood pressure, heart rate, and pain. Smiling can increase endurance, strengthen our immune system, and even help keep the cells in our body healthy.

  3. A smile is the best accessory

    Smiling shifts our mood, tipping it into the ‘happy’ side. A happy person is a more confident person. Walking into a room with a smile is better than wearing fancy brand-name clothes or shoes. There’s no downside to smiling, not in the way it looks, nor the results it brings us.

Sarah Benedict
MCC Wellness Council
05/31/2022