Smile, you’re over 55!
|Published
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London - They say life begins at 40, but we’re happiest when we reach 55, according to a survey.
Researchers found that those over 55 smile more than other age group, indicating that life gets better as we near retirement and start to put work stresses behind us.
And those under 55 not only smile less often, they are more likely to fake a grin – especially where their boss is concerned – indicating that career pressures are our greatest source of unhappiness.
Half of over-55s smile more than ten times a day – far more than younger age groups.
The study also found that nearly 70 percent of over-55s say they have never faked a smile, suggesting they are the happiest age group.
In comparison, those aged 35 to 44 are apparently the least smiley, with five percent saying they never grin. Those younger than 55 are also much more likely to fake a smile, with only 35 percent claiming they’ve never been less than genuine.
And of those aged 18 to 34, a tenth claim that more than half their smiles are fake, according to the British Dental Health Foundation and Oral-B survey.
One in seven of those surveyed confessed that the smiles they reserve for their boss are not genuine.
Women were revealed to be less grumpy than men, with only two percent confessing they never smiled, compared to six percent of British men.
Dr Uchenna Okoye, Oral-B smile director, said: “I see a lot of cases of teeth grinding with my younger and middle-aged patients.
“It’s a strong sign of stress and work is usually one of the main contributors.
“I’m not surprised how many younger Britons are faking their smiles through the pressures of the office.”
Britons are thought to smile about half a million times during their lifetime – mostly during the summer months, and especially in the early evening.
Many Britons are reluctant to smile because they are worried about the appearance of their teeth, according to toothpaste maker Biorepair.- Daily Mail