Smiling muscles, such as the zygomaticus major and minor, can be strengthened through exercises like smiling widely for five seconds, lip puckering, and sucking the pulp between teeth. These exercises can help delay signs of aging on the lower face.
The smiling muscles include the zygomaticus major and zygomaticus minor, which are the muscles that lift the corners of the mouth when you smile. They are also important for chewing, speaking, and lip puckering. Strengthening these muscles can help keep skin taut and delay signs of aging, such as wrinkles and sagging, on the lower face. Smile muscle exercises are generally easy to perform at home without special training or equipment. There are several muscle smile exercises you can choose from to help build your facial muscles.
One of the easiest ways to build smile muscles may be to practice smiling. Experts generally recommend stretching your mouth into the widest smile possible. The smile should ideally be held for five seconds. Repeating the exercise 10 to 12 times per session can help develop the facial muscles responsible for smiling. Some fitness experts recommend performing this muscular smile exercise while pressing the balls of your cheeks with one to three fingers of each hand, to add resistance and build stronger muscles.
The smiling muscles can also benefit from the lip puckering exercise. For this exercise, experts often recommend pursing your lips tightly and then pulling them back into your mouth so that they cover your teeth. You may benefit from holding this position for a count of ten seconds and repeating it five to six times per exercise session.
To work on the facial cheek muscles, keep your lips together while slightly opening your jaws. Suck the pulp between your teeth, as if you were making a fish face. Hold the cheek meat between the jaws for a count of ten seconds, being careful not to bite yourself. Fitness experts generally recommend repeating this exercise five to six times.
Building smile muscles can also involve stretching and toning the facial muscles, especially in the cheeks. Closing your mouth with some air in and forcing that air into first one cheek, then the other, and then first the upper lip and then the lower lip can help stretch and tone the smiling muscles in the cheeks. Ideally, the air should be held firmly in each spot for a count of ten seconds, and most experts recommend repeating this exercise at least five times per session.
Closing and opening your mouth widely for 10 to 12 repetitions can also help stretch and tone your smiling muscles. Keep your mouth open as wide as possible for a count of five seconds, and then rest for a count of five seconds after closing your mouth.
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