Duchenne Smile - Smile Your Way To Health!

You are not well dressed for the day, till you wear a smile: Anon

- Sunil S Chiplunkar

The smile is a very important facet of health. Smiling makes social health easier. The smile is defined as a facial expression formed by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. When the smile reaches the eyes, there is a contraction of muscles at the corner of the eye. This is called the Duchenne smile or an authentic smile. A smile helps in socialization, making it a vital tool of social wellbeing. WHO defines health as complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Smile is essential for both - being approachable and approachability. This makes it a critical factor in social health. When a person feels introverted and unable to express his or her smile, socialization is affected negatively and leads to a lack of social health. This may, in turn, lead to loss of self-esteem (or self-love), in confidence (fear), inferiority complex and even extreme sadness or depression. Hence, the habit of smiling tactfully helps in social well-being.

Duchenne smile

A French neurologist