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Laughter expert Martin Sieber and dentist Anne Heinz are experts on laughter and healthy teeth.

National Tooth Health Day – More laughter with healthy teeth || Some of you might not be surprised, but Germans actually don't laugh as much as they used to. 😉 Meanwhile, humor, joy, fun, and laughter are what make us who we are, and sometimes as individual as we all are.

To mark "National Oral Health Day," I had the exciting opportunity to attend an interesting "Chew & Smile" event and learn valuable information about laughter, oral health, beautiful teeth, and chewing gum from LOL star Martin Sieber, coach Pia Baur, and dentist Anne Heinz. Today, I want to tell you why laughter is so important and why sugar-free chewing gum can help you achieve a beautiful smile.

Oral Health Day – Laughter makes you happy

The headline of this paragraph pretty much says it all. In my opinion, nothing is as important as enjoying every moment. We usually express enjoyment and joie de vivre with a contented face, a smile on our lips. Yet, one in four people prefers to smile with their mouth closed, and one in five doesn't dare to smile in public at all – mostly simply because of insecurity about their teeth. This is not only a shame, but also unnecessary. Dare to laugh, regardless of whether your teeth are straight, crooked, gapped, or perhaps even have food stuck to them 😉. Laugh when you feel like it.

Far more important than a perfect "Barbie smile" is the health of your teeth and gums. You contribute significantly to this through your own active oral hygiene. Healthy teeth and the resulting pleasant feeling in your mouth automatically boost self-confidence and the joy of laughter. However, for those who have no idea how to restore their well-being regarding their teeth, mouth, and smile, here are a few tips we received at the "Chew & Smile" event.

Sugar-free chewing gum, e.g. from Wrigley, supports a healthy mouthfeel.

Healthy teeth (and how laughter can bring joy again)

A fresh and clean mouth feeling and well-maintained teeth are achievable for everyone. But how? – Make sure to brush your teeth twice a day, clean between your teeth with dental floss, and additionally stimulate saliva production with sugar-free chewing gum. Chewing helps keep your mouth clean and your teeth hygienic and smooth. Sugar-free gum gives you a fresh feeling in your mouth, and the additional saliva produced, or rather its composition, keeps your tooth surfaces smooth. Chewing gum is therefore the ideal "dental care between meals" and should become part of your routine after meals, in addition to your usual oral hygiene. This doesn't mean you should chew gum all day long, but it is recommended to chew sugar-free gum about 20 minutes after eating. You'll be doing yourself, your teeth, and your mouth (feel) a favor.

Once the foundation for open and heartfelt laughter is in place, the right thoughts and a coherent mindset are also crucial. Laughter expert Martin Sieber suggests that positive thinking and being able to laugh at oneself can help. He and many others find it helpful to be relaxed and self-confident, and to keep an eye out for the funny moments in life. "Be yourself and feel comfortable with it!" advises the affable laughter expert.

Dentist Anne Heinz also points to the proven reduction of stress through chewing sugar-free gum and emphasizes that every smile and laugh can be beautiful – the main thing is that the teeth are healthy and the laugh is genuine.

Business trainer and resilience expert Pia Baur sees the importance of laughter this way: „We need to make an effort to create opportunities for laughter more often throughout the day. Relaxed breaks, less stress, a quick chat with friends or colleagues – these kinds of mood boosters shouldn't be underestimated, because laughter can change our day. It releases endorphins and has not only a short-term but also a long-term effect on our well-being.“

Chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes is good for your oral hygiene and is fun.

Tips and tricks on how to make yourself laugh honestly

Laughter, genuine laughter, isn't so difficult after all. If you combine it with well-maintained, healthy teeth and positive thoughts, a few little tricks and the "right environment" can also help – even if your day isn't going quite so smoothly. Don't believe it? – Then try holding a pen between your jaw for a few minutes. The corners of your mouth will automatically turn upwards, and after a few minutes, you'll already feel happier. Your brain "joins in" and releases the corresponding hormones. Why? We associate a smiling mouth and upturned corners of the mouth with "happiness" and "being cheerful," and our feelings and mood adjust accordingly.

Funny videos, humorous online content, and loved ones (or thoughts of them) can also help create genuine feelings of happiness. Close your eyes, think of your favorite person (or your favorite food ;-)) and see what happens to your smile. You smiled, didn't you? 😉

In addition, 38% of respondents in a study* stated that funny online content helps them have fun and laugh. (Why not try it right now with the funny...) Video by Martin Sieber (from which he reveals his secrets to a positive outlook on life). I definitely had a lot of fun at the event and have resolved to laugh with my mouth open and show my teeth even more often – simply however and however I feel like it.

(*Mars Wrigley, Extra White Smiles Survey 2023. Representative online survey of 1,000 people from Germany, conducted by Perspectus Global on behalf of Mars Wrigley Germany.)