How can you make a friend or loved one smile? Consider taking a task off of their to-do list, buying flowers for no reason, celebrating an obscure holiday or sending a video greeting.
Why positive surprises can make you smile
Whether it’s a nice note or a thoughtful gift, a pleasant surprise can make your day. Here’s what’s happening when a surprise makes you smile.
How you progress from surprised to smiling
All surprises interrupt your thoughts. That’s why your initial reaction is to concentrate on the unexpectedness. Whether this unanticipated event ultimately makes you happy or not, you feel surprised and immediately try to make sense of it. Once you understand what is happening, you will quickly appreciate and welcome the surprise — assuming it is positive.
That’s when you show your happiness by smiling. The welcomed surprise makes you smile because the pleasure center of the brain (the nucleus accumbens) has a more intense response to something pleasurable when it is unexpected.
Ways to keep your smile healthy for your next pleasant surprise
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Invest in a dental plan. People with dental coverage are 40% more likely to see a dentist at least once a year, compared to those without coverage. Take advantage of dental benefits from your employer (if available) or purchase an individual plan from Delta Dental.
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Practice great oral health every day. It’s no surprise that a predictable routine is vital for great oral health. Remember to brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily.
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Go to the dentist before you are in pain. If you only go to the dentist when you are in pain, dental issues may be more costly and complex to treat. Gum disease, and even cavities, can be relatively painless in their early stages. So it’s important to keep regularly scheduled checkups.
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Know what snacks can do to your smile. While most people know sugar isn’t good for their teeth, starchy foods such as white bread, crackers, pretzels and potato chips can have a similar effect. They can easily get stuck between teeth and break down into simple sugars that cause cavities. If you do indulge, chew sugar-free gum and drink water to help remove starches.
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Keep floss on the go. It’s easy to stash extra floss in your car, office, purse or pocket. That way you can avoid using toothpicks. While they seem helpful, toothpicks can actually injure your gums and leave bacteria in your mouth.
Practice these oral health habits and you may be surprised how much they help your smile.
Sources:
1DDPA 2019 Adult’s Oral Health & Well-Being Survey
