How will you celebrate National Smile Day? It’s coming up quick (May 31st), so be thinking about what you’d like to do to share smiles that day!
At TrueCare Dentistry, we love the sentiment behind National Smile Day. And… we love that this special day was the brainchild of two dentists — Dr. Tim Stirneman and Jim Wojdyla from Lake in the Hills, Illinois. They started National Smile Day in 2018 because they wanted to see people smile more. As dental practitioners, we couldn’t agree more. We love to see our patients’ smiles!
On National Smile Day 2023, we’d like to encourage you to spread joy and positivity through your smile and promote good dental health at the same time. Whether you’re looking to whiten your teeth, give the gift of a smile, or plan a community service activity this year, there are many ways to celebrate this special day.
In this blog post, we’ll share some fun and creative tips for celebrating National Smile Day and showing off your beautiful, healthy smile.
Smile
One very simple way to celebrate National Smile Day is to smile. A lot! The world can be a harsh place. Listen to the news on any given day, and you’ll hear one terrible thing after another that’s happened somewhere in the world. Sometimes in our local communities.
It’s easy to feel like there’s not much we can do to influence the world or to make things better. And we may or may not have a lot of pull in far reaching places. But we can do something to brighten up the day of the person next to us in the grocery line. The postal worker delivering our mail. The neighbors we run into on our walk around the block.
What can we do? Smile! Psychology and Counseling News published by The University of West Alabama says, “Your body releases three hormones that make you feel good when you smile. They include dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. These signal to your body that you’re happy, and in turn, you feel happier.”
There’s no better time than National Smile Day to start signaling to yourself and the world that you’re happy.
“Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.”
– Mother Teresa
Make Your Smile Sparkle
If you’re feeling a little shy about your smile — maybe it doesn’t seem quite as bright as you’d like — you’re not alone. Many people worry about discoloration of their teeth. And yet, a lot of people also associate a bright, white smile with beauty and confidence. So, what should you do when your smile’s lost its brightness?
One solution would be to whiten your teeth. If that’s something you’ve been thinking about, why not treat yourself when National Smile Day rolls around this year?
You probably know that whitening teeth is a popular treatment. We call it a “cosmetic dental treatment” because it has more to do with the cosmetics of your teeth than their health. It’s popular because it can remove stains and discoloration, and turn your smile back into the bright, white smile you’ve been missing.
You may have also heard about the options you have for whitening your teeth:
- In-office treatments at a dental office
- Take-home whitening kits
- Over-the-counter whitening products you can buy for yourself and use at home
Be sure to talk to your dentist before you start any teeth whitening treatment. You’ll want to be sure the one you’ve chosen is not just effective but also safe.
After you’ve gotten your teeth bright and shiny again, you’ll also want to talk to your dentist about how to keep them that way. Staying away from foods and drinks that stain your teeth is a good first start, but sometimes it’s hard to take a pass on that tall glass of ice-cold sweet tea here in the South, isn’t it?
Give a Smile-Related Gift
Another way to celebrate National Smile Day is giving a smile-related gift. You might be wondering what in the world that is, but think about it this way. Anything that makes someone smile or makes their smile brighter could be a smile-related gift.
What do you think about these ideas?
- Dental hygiene kits – toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss
- Electric toothbrushes
- Teeth whitening kits
- Water flossers
If you know someone who has a birthday in May, why not give them one of these smile-related gifts to celebrate? Or make someone’s day when you give one of them away just for the fun of it…!
For those on the receiving end, these gifts can contribute to healthier teeth and better overall health, which can in turn help boost confidence. When you’re choosing a smile-related gift, just remember to keep in mind who you’re giving it to.
- Does the person have sensitive teeth? Go with special toothpaste for sensitive teeth and a soft-bristled brush.
- Are you giving it to children? Pick toothbrushes with their favorite movie characters and toothpaste with fun flavors.
- Add a thoughtful note or tips for dental health to personalize the gift even more… and create an even bigger smile!
Spread Smiles in Your Community
“A simple smile. That’s the start of opening your heart and being compassionate to others.”
– Dalai Lama
Ever thought of spreading smiles in your community to celebrate National Smile Day and give back at the same time? It’s pretty easy to find ways to spread smiles all around. Here are some ideas:
- Volunteer at a local dental clinic.
- Organize free dental care for people in need.
- Organize a dental hygiene drive to collect oral health products like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss.
You may think of some other ideas on your own. Whatever you do, know that spreading smiles by giving back to the community is a great way to celebrate National Smile Day!
If we haven’t seen your smile in awhile, be sure to stop by TrueCare Dentistry and say hello or schedule your next appointment if you’re not already on our calendar.