Facts About Your Face:
-There are 43 muscles in your face, most are controlled by your facial nerve (which is your 7th cranial nerve).
-You use at least 5 pairs of those muscles to raise the corners of your lips (10 total); the bigger the smile or laugh, the more you use and the more of a workout your face gets!
Bell's Palsy:
Bell's Palsy is caused by an irritation to the facial nerve leading to paralysis of the facial muscles. This is seen as a drooping on one or both sides of the face. The causes can be anything that irritates the nerve including increased swelling or inflammation, a virus (sometimes from a cold or flu), or sometimes thought to associate with something too hot or too cold irritating the face. It can sometimes also happen during pregnancy due to the increased swelling throughout the body and face. It affects approximately 40,000 Americans each year.
Bell's Palsy often times will resolve mostly on its own with few or limited complications, though people can be left with decreased normal facial expressions, "crooked" smiles, or difficulty closing 1 eye to sleep at night. Typically Bell's Palsy can be treated with steroids or anti-inflammatories from your MD. It can also be treated with physical therapy techniques like massage and muscle re-training to re-learn facial expressions.
Facial muscles are different than other muscles in the rest of your body. Your brain has a more difficult time sensing their length and position. Facial expression is learned through "mimicry" when we are babies growing and developing. We know this from studies and from the fact that babies who grew up with mothers affected by Bell's Palsy would mimic their similar facial expressions. Treatment for this kind of muscle problem is therefore different than just trying to make faces again and must be carefully progressed to maximize the previous ability to smile, close the eyes, or move the lips. It is also important with pregnant women or households with a family member who has Bell's Palsy, that the baby spends time with unaffected family, siblings, or friends to ensure that no improper movement patterns are learned.
References:
http://bedtimemath.org/fun-math-laughing-muscles/
https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/muscles-smile.htm
