Research shows that a baby smiles 400 times, an adolescent 17 times, a woman about 62 times, and a man 54 times daily.

Evidence suggests that smiling occurs in all human beings, regardless of culture.

Babies born blind smile when happy even though they have never seen a smile. The advancements in ultrasonic photography have shown smiles on fetuses as the muscles develop.

The smile is recognizable worldwide, and is visible for up to 300 feet.

The physical act of smiling can use as little as five muscles or well over 16.  Typically, it requires 12 muscles to smile and over 70 to frown.  Facial muscles relax in a smile, allowing blood to flow freely through vessels.  The contortion of a frown exhausts the facial muscles, a clear warning from the brain that you need to relax.

Smiling is contagious and brightens your mood and the mood of the people around you. According to research, smiling boosts the immune system, lowers blood pressure, helps with optimism, and counteracts the effects of stress.

When you smile (appropriately) in conversation and in your surroundings, it gives the message that you are a receptive person.  Our voices project a warmer tone when we speak with a smile.

People who are successful in relationships, socially and in their careers, have a smile that motivates and inspires.

Social psychology research shows that facial expressions reflect our inner feelings and changing our facial expression can help to change our feelings.

Seeing a smile creates the “halo” effect – helping us to remember other happy events more vividly and to be more motivated.

Smiling has been found to boost levels of serotonin. The neurotransmitter plays a vital part in regulating moods, sleep, sexuality, and appetite. Endorphins – the body’s natural painkiller – are also released from smiling.

Researchers at the British Dental Health Foundation showed pictures of smiling people to study participants. They found the brain and heart activity of participants was equal to being given the stimulation of 2,000 chocolate bars.

Researchers at the University of California were able to predict the future success (30 years down the road) of 21-year-old women by looking at their photographs.

Women who displayed more positive emotion were more likely to be married by 27, less likely to have remained single into middle adulthood, and more likely to have satisfying marriages 30 years later.

Smiling has been proven to lower heart rate and produce less stressful and rapid breathing. When we smile, it produces the emotion most closely related to it, feeling happier. Also, you will feel more successful and seem successful to others. Smiling helps depict an individual’s attractiveness and sincerity.

According to one survey, both men and women rated a person’s smile as the single most important quality attracting them to the opposite sex. 45 percent of women chose a person’s smile over the eyes and a good physique.  Thirty-five percent of men were initially attracted to the smile.

Several court studies revealed a phenomenon known as the Smile-Leniency Effect that shows judges give those who smile lighter penalties.

Although in some cases the judge or police man is not very smile friendly and may react negatively to a smile & ask you if you find anything funny, or they may order you to wipe that smile off your face.