Monday, July 8, 2019

Smiling & Longevity: The Dental Connection!

According to a recent study, people with big smiles may actually live longer than those who don't!  It has been know for quite some time that positive emotions have been linked to both physical and mental health. Researchers did something quite interesting: they looked at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (ranging from a big smile, a partial smile, or no smile).  The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009.  The researchers then took into account other factors that impact life longevity, including body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results! Researchers found that the players who were not smiling in the photos died at the average age of 72.9 years.  While players with partial smiles lived to be 75, those with big smiles, however, lived to be 79.9 years old.

What can we learn from the study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! If you have any questions or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT