“I love smiling – smiling is my favorite!”

Smiling is a big part of social interaction. Some would argue you should smile at others to spread a little joy. It’s scientifically proven the physical sensation of smiling can make your brain a bit happier.

It turns out several studies have shown a lot more evidence about the expression. Researchers at the University of Minnesota examined the characteristics of winning smiles.

It’s worth studying the human smile because it is so important socially. It’s not only to avoid flashing a “creepy smile.” People with different medical conditions can struggle if they are physically unable to smile easily. The researchers kept facial reconstruction surgery in mind for that reason.

They studied a few dozen smiles and checked their angle, width, toothiness, and degree of crookedness. They found people favored medium-sized smiles rather than the biggest ones. Smiles that were only medium-upturned and slightly crooked were also more inviting and preferred by people. It’s thought that the asymmetry in a smile can make others feel that the smile is more genuine. The study also showed that the lowest rated smiles showed a lot of teeth, probably because the show of teeth can also signal fear or contempt.

There is definitely a lot that goes into a smile, no matter the size or shape!