- Categories:
- Fun
- Tags:
- AwarenessLifestyleMental Health
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every May 31
- Holiday emoji:
- 😁
National Smile Day brightens the calendar every May 31, inviting everyone to embrace the simple yet profound act of smiling. Founded by dentists Dr. Tim Stirneman and Jim Wojdyla, this day encourages us to share the positive impact a healthy smile can have on our lives and others. Flash your best grin, share a laugh, and brighten someone’s day!
Want to sponsor National Smile Day? Learn how
Expected National Smile Day Deals
While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Smile Day often brings opportunities for oral health savings. Look for deals from major dental brands like Colgate, Crest, and Oral-B on toothpaste, toothbrushes, and whitening kits. Local dental practices may offer discounted cleanings or consultations. Retailers such as Target and Walmart often feature promotions on oral care products. Some online retailers like SmileDirectClub or Invisalign providers might run special offers on cosmetic dental services. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as May 31 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Smile Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalSmileDay. Create a short video showcasing your best smile or a funny reason to laugh.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalSmileDay. Share a photo of yourself smiling, perhaps with a friend or family member, and tag them.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalSmileDay. Post a story about how a smile has positively impacted your day.
National Smile Day Hero
Dr. Tim Stirneman
History of National Smile Day
The history of the smile can be traced back to monkeys and apes, according to primatologist Signe Preuschoft. These animals bare their teeth in a facsimile of a smile to show dominance or warn off predators. The theory is that humans copied this behavior and, over time, the smile evolved to show amusement and enjoyment. Research indicates that on the way to portraying happiness, smiles were a way of attracting mates among early humans.
If you’ve ever wondered why older portraits often showed unsmiling people, it was because people in that era had a lot of tooth rot caused by sugar and a poor diet. Plus, more common was the aristocratic perception that smiling and laughing was indecorous, and showed a lack of self-control or good manners. One of the few exceptions was Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” although the portrait’s ambiguity is part of its fame. As dentistry and an attitude of authenticity developed, people began smiling even in portraits, this time with their teeth on display.
Studies of yearbook photographs over the years point to the breadth of smiles increasing over the years. The study indicates that because participants had to hold the pose for longer periods in the earlier days of photography, their smiles gradually dimmed. The prevalence of smiling in the recent past is linked to culture and traditions and varies from country to country. Some regions with high individualism and low population density had a higher incidence of people who smiled. A study found that the biggest reason people smile, however, can be attributed to a country’s tradition of diverse immigration over time. So places like Brazil and the United States, where people do not share common customs or languages, see higher incidences of smiles. The study states that this is because the smile is part of a universal language.
A French neurologist, Guillaume Duchenne, who studied the mechanism of facial expression, discovered there are two types of smiles: a Duchenne smile and a non-Duchenne smile. The former smiles with the eyes or is a genuine smile, whereas the latter is an ambiguous, non-genuine, or simply polite smile.
National Smile Day timeline
French portraits of people show smiles with teeth, which is a new occurrence.
French priest and educational reformer Jean-Baptiste de La Salle publishes “Rules of Christian Decorum and Civility,” which advises against smiling and laughing, since they are ‘indecorous’ displays of emotion, according to him.
This is a turning point in social practices.
It becomes the norm to smile in photographs.
In Tanzania, students at a school break out into fits of uncontrollable laughter, which eventually spreads to their parents and their acquaintances.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Smile Day
Local businesses can embrace National Smile Day by creating a cheerful atmosphere and encouraging positive interactions. Dental offices could offer free smile makeovers or educational workshops on oral hygiene. Restaurants might run a ‘Smile & Save’ promotion, offering a small discount to customers who share a genuine smile at the counter. Retail stores could host a photo booth with fun props, inviting shoppers to share their smiles on social media with a branded hashtag, fostering community engagement and spreading joy.
National Smile Day FAQs
When is National Smile Day?
In 2027, National Smile Day will be observed on Monday, May 31. This mid-week placement offers a great start to the week with a positive outlook.
What are the health benefits of smiling?
Beyond emotional benefits, smiling can also lower blood pressure and increase longevity. Studies suggest that people who smile more frequently tend to live longer, healthier lives.
How many times a day does the average person smile?
The frequency of smiling varies significantly among individuals, influenced by factors like personality, culture, and environment. However, increasing your daily smile count can lead to noticeable improvements in personal happiness and social interactions.
Who founded National Smile Day?
The day was established to encourage people to recognize and share the ‘power of a healthy smile.’ It serves as a reminder of the importance of oral health and its connection to overall happiness and confidence.
How To Celebrate National Smile Day
Smile!
The best way to celebrate this day dedicated to smiling is to smile, of course! Spread some good cheer around and grace another person with your smile. We often don't realize that we wear a frown for most of the day. Share a smile with someone just for a moment and see the difference it makes in your everyday interactions.
Make someone else smile
Do one thing to bring a smile to someone else’s face. Start small (tell them a joke) or go big (volunteer at a children’s home). Whatever you choose, cherish the feeling of being able to light up someone’s life, and keep bringing smiles to everyone you meet.
Visit your dentist
Since this day was created by dentists, delight yours by giving them a visit. Go for a dental checkup to make sure your smile is in tip-top shape.
5 Fun Facts About Smiling
Smiling is less taxing than frowning
It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile.
Babies are better at smiling than you are
Babies smile about 400 times a day, while, on average, adults only smile about 20 times.
Babies can fake it too!
At only nine or 10 months of age, babies have learned to offer fake smiles to strangers, reserving real smiles and laughter for people they are comfortable with.
We know when a smile is fake
Our brains have evolved to such an extent that we can see a fake smile a mile away — also, our brains automatically mimic the smile we see, which means we give a fake smile for a fake smile.
Laughing for the heck of it
A study on why people laugh found that 80-90% of all laughter is in response to simple statements like “It was nice meeting you”, or “I’ll see you later.”
Why We Love National Smile Day
Smiles hold power!
Not only do they automatically make you feel good (yes, even fake smiles!), but they also create a temporary bond between the people sharing a smile. Data shows that over time, smiles can increase productivity and creativity in workers, and make people seem more competent and trustworthy.
Smiles have health benefits too
The more we smile, the healthier our brains become. This is because smiles make us happy, thus reducing stress. Smiles are also known to reduce our blood pressure, heart rate, and pain. Smiling can increase endurance, strengthen our immune system, and even help keep the cells in our body healthy.
A smile is the best accessory
Smiling shifts our mood, tipping it into the ‘happy’ side. A happy person is a more confident person. Walking into a room with a smile is better than wearing fancy brand-name clothes or shoes. There’s no downside to smiling, not in the way it looks, nor the results it brings us.
Social Media Tips for National Smile Day
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