13 fascinating facts about our smiles

Some fascinating scientific facts about our smiles, and how a simple smile can help change your life and those around you.

Simulating a genuine smile can boost your mood
Psychologists have found that even if you’re in bad mood, you can instantly lift your spirits by simulating a genuine smile. The trick is not to simulate a fake smile, but by engaging in a genuine smile is just as effective.
It boosts your immune system
Smiling can really improve your physical health. Your body is more relaxed when you smile, which contributes to good health and a stronger immune system.
Smiles are contagious
It’s not just a saying, scientists believe that smiling really is contagious. In a study conducted in Sweden, people had difficulty frowning when they looked at other subjects who were smiling, and their muscles twitched into smiles all on their own.
Smiles relieve stress
Your body immediately releases endorphins when you smile, even when you force it. This sudden change in mood will help you feel better and release stress.
It’s a universal sign of happiness
While hand shakes, hugs, and bows all have varying meanings across cultures, smiling is known around the world and in all cultures as a sign of happiness and acceptance. You don’t speak French? That’s ok, a smile will help you make many friends in a foreign country who will offer to help.
Smiles use from 5 to 53 facial muscles
Just smiling can require your body to use between 5 to 53 muscles movements.
Babies are born with the ability to smile
Babies learn a lot of behaviours and sounds from watching the people around them, but scientists believe that all babies are born with the ability, since even blind babies smile.
Smiling make you attractive
Smiles make a person seem more attractive, sociable and confident.
Smiles are the most easily recognisable facial expression
People can recognise smiles from up to 300 feet away, making it the most easily recognisable facial expression.
Women smile more than men
Generally, women smile more than men, but when they participate in similar work or social roles, they smile the same amount. This finding leads scientists to believe that gender roles are quite flexible. Boy babies, though, do smile less than girl babies, who also make more eye contact.
Smiles are more attractive than makeup
A research study conducted by Orbit Complete discovered that 69% of people find women more attractive when they smile, than when they are wearing makeup and not smiling.
There are 19 different types of smiles
UC-San Francisco researcher identified 19 types of smiles and put them into two categories:
1. polite ‘social’ smiles which engage fewer muscles
2. sincere ‘felt’ smiles that use more muscles on both sides of the face
Babies start smiling as newborns
Most doctors believe that real smiles occur when babies are awake at the age of four-to-six weeks, but babies start smiling in their sleep as soon as they’re born.