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Health and Well-Being

Flex and Extend Your Way to a Great Smile!

You exercise to define your biceps, trim your tummy, or firm up your thighs. But did you know that there are exercises you can do to improve your smile?

Gordon Isbell, D.M.D., a spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry, said that more and more patients are coming to the dentist dissatisfied with their smile, even bringing in old photographs of themselves and asking if they can get those younger smiles back. Modern dentistry can do just that, skillfully combining art with science to create or restore a stunning smile. And exercising the muscles that control your smile can enhance the process and help you keep your smile beautiful for years to come!

What determines a great smile?

The appearance of your smile is determined by the size and color of your teeth, the bone structure of your face, and the muscles around your lips. As we age, we tend to lose some muscle tone, and, sadly enough, the muscles that control your smile can sag and droop just like the muscles in the rest of your body can. You can fight the effects of gravity on your smile by toning your "smiling muscles" for three minutes each day. Here's how:

  • Sit in front of a mirror and smile, progressing from a slight smile to an ear-to-ear grin. Hold each "smile level" for ten seconds before you proceed to the next.


  • Smile as widely as you can without opening your mouth. With your thumb and index finger, firmly hold the corners of your mouth, and try to bring your lips back to the no-smile position, against the resistance of your fingers.


    • According to the AGD, research has shown that performing these exercises for thirty consecutive days can dramatically improve your smile. They feel a bit like you're doing push-ups with your lips and cheeks, but like any exercise, they should get easier as time goes on. The benefit? A finely-toned smile!

    Source: The Academy of General Dentistry