Body Language Of The Lips: 4 Gestures That Give You Away

Non-verbal communication and facial expressions convey a lot of information about the feelings or personal state of those around us. And most of the time, unconsciously, which opens a window of opportunity to “read people.” Therefore, a look, a gesture, a grimace or the body language of the lips can be more clarifying even than your own words.

Specifically, this analysis applied to the mouth area is tremendously informative. The way you smile or the way you position and open your lips can give clues to the feelings that a certain person or a certain circumstance has generated in you. Let’s delve into the body language of the lips, specifically in  4 gestures with which we can read others paying special attention to their mouth. 

Smile

It is the gesture par excellence. The best cover letter. A smile can be a sign of joy, hope, involvement and acceptance. But there are many kinds of smiles and the study of the body language of the lips and facial muscles has been responsible for unraveling them.

For example, studies tell us that the highest expression of happiness is one in which the upper teeth are taught almost completely. It cannot be controlled and is done unconsciously. It releases endorphins and activates our cerebral pleasure circuit. It emerges unmatched and is often accompanied by a laugh.

But beware! Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between this, natural and true, and a false and forced smile. The gestures that we perform in both are different, since, in each case, different types of muscles are contracted. However, at first glance it is very difficult to differentiate them, so in these situations of doubt it is more clarifying to observe the eye area.

If we want to know if a smile is authentic, the best way is by observing the orbicularis oculi muscles that surround the eyes. These are the ones that produce wrinkles around them. Here, the zygomaticus major and minor muscles also come into play, which gives us the characteristic ear-to-ear smile. This genuine smile is known as the Duchenne smile.

Biting your lower lip

Depending on the intensity with which we bite our lower lip, the meaning of our non-verbal language may be different. Or, at least, orient ourselves in one direction or another. If we do it gently and delicately, it indicates attraction. If, on the contrary, it is strong, the teeth becoming marked, we speak of a state of nervousness.

Attraction

When we are attracted to a person, it is practically inevitable to make that gesture. We bite our lower lip or cover it with our teeth almost automatically. In addition, we usually accompany him with a slight inclination of the head to one side or downwards, which shows that we feel comfortable and delighted with the company of the other.

This type of non-verbal communication reflects how we feel towards the person in front of us and towards the situation (it is often difficult to know exactly what the gesture refers to). And although this body language of the lips is unconscious, in general, we are able to tell what gestures we are making. Therefore, if we are fast, we can get to make it up to some degree.

Nervousness

Try to notice a coworker who is very focused on their tasks. You may scratch your hair and neck or move your hands and legs non-stop. Now focus only on her face, on the small changes that she manifests on her face during the day.

One of them will possibly be lip biting. This usually means that you are in a state of tension, that you are rushed, worried or nervous. It is also a clear sign that your state of internal physiological arousal is increasing.

Decision making

If we move our lips from right to left, we will find the characteristic gesture of decision-making. In that course of time in which we move them from one side of the cheek to the other, we reflect, think and try to decide. Our brain is working and the physiological manifestation is centered in the mouth.

Usually the first grimace is the one that lasts the longest. Then we repeat the gesture two or three more times. And later we pronounce or express the reasoning or decision that we were considering within ourselves. Numerous investigations consider that body language represents between 50% and 70% of the amount of information we transmit.

Specifically, as we see, the lips can become a great little map of what we think or feel. However, it is also essential to pay attention to other signals, such as, for example, context, hand gestures or eyes. It provides us with endless information that we do not express verbally, but that are part of us and communicate our inner state.