A smile is universal. No matter your language or culture, smiles are translated the same way. What’s interesting is that any other species—other than apes or humans—that show teeth is considered a threat.

However, humans are much different. It’s believed that the human smile evolved from apes, when showing teeth sometimes meant submission in this species of primate.

Furthermore, smiling is embedded in our genes. There is no need to learn how to smile. Frank McAndrew, psychology professor at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois stated the following:

“What is especially interesting is that you do not have to learn to do any of this–it is preprogrammed behavior. Kids who are born blind never see anybody smile, but they show the same kinds of smiles under the same situations as sighted people.”

How Smiling Decreases Stress and Alters Brain Chemistry

Why does smiling help with stress? Consider the body language a smile portrays to yourself as well as others around you. A smiling expression sends a message from your face to the left frontal cortex. This triggers the release of serotonin and dopamine into your brain. These are the chemicals of happiness within the human psyche, which are responsible for improving your home—and therefore altering the chemistry of your brain.

Humans have altered their brain chemistry for years through natural plants, medications, and otherwise. However, smiling impacts the brain in more ways than one, and it all begins with brain chemistry.

While a smile might not have the same impact as taking antidepressants, studies have shown that smiling can help relieve stress and perk up your mood—even if it’s only temporary.

The age-old saying “grid and bear it” suggests smiling not only signals happiness to others, but could also be a way to help cope with life stresses.

Previous studies have shown that smiling affects emotion, and that positive emotions have an effect on stress.

Interestingly enough, smiling wasn’t embraced as a culture until recently—at least when it comes to photographs.

Why Didn’t People Smile in Old Photographs?

In the 21^st century, smiling in photos is almost expected, although we likely all know at least one person who doesn’t ever smile for the camera.

However, back as late as the 1820s, generally no one smiled for pictures.

But why?

According to Time, there are several theories.

Some believe that bad dental health was the reasoning. Others believe that it took so long to take a photograph that people simply couldn’t hold the smile.

By the 1850s, technology was advanced enough for people to smile comfortably during a photo, but still chose not to smile. This means that this theory may be partially true, but the technology advancements doesn’t entirely line up.

A third theory is that people simply copied what they saw in old paintings. Back in these times, smiling was associated with drunkness, lewdness, madness, and loudness.

By World War II, smiling for photographs became the norm.

Can Smiling Help Your Career?

According to ZipRecruiter, smiling can help you snag a job during the interview process.

When an employer is interviewing candidates, they want someone who will be able to do the job for sure — but what they also want is someone who will work well with the rest of the team they already have in place.

Obviously, you, as a job seeker, need to do some research on the nature of the job and the office environment in order to make sure you’re truly a good fit, but in the end, a quality smile may be exactly what an employer was looking for all along.

Smiling during an interview boosts confidence, helps you recover from mistakes, and can help you give a great first impression.

Smiling Helps Close Deals (And Make More Money)

According to Entrepreneur, smiling can help those in the sales world by conveying positivity—and thus closing more deals.

“In a business setting, emotional contagion means a prospect might be influenced by the emotion of another person. In other words, if an entrepreneur is making a pitch and genuinely smiling, his or her positivity and warmth will be conveyed to the other party, improving the odds for closing a deal.”

Even though we aren’t all salesmen, saleswomen, or entrepreneurs, smiling when asking for a raise certainly never hurt anyone—and it may even improve your odds.

More Facts and Stats to Smile About

Not only will smiling help change the chemistry of your brain, it has many other benefits that improve our bodies and our minds. Here are some interesting facts and stats about smiling that you’re sure to enjoy:

• A genuine smile is when you smile big enough that your eyes squint
• Smiling is the first facial expression made by babies. Some babies even smile in the womb
• Smiling makes you look more attractive
• Studies have shown that people view smiling faces as approachable, fun, confident, youthful, and successful
• It takes 26 muscles to smile
• According to BBC, there are 19 types of smiles but only 6 of those smiles are for happiness

Have You Smiled Today?

We hope that these fun facts about smiling brightened your day a little. Be sure to share this post with friends and give them a reason to smile.