A recent survey found the most important thing men notice in women is her teeth. With nice gnashers scoring higher than hair and clothes as things men judge women on.
All those years you thought your dentist was just being a nag about flossing when they were actually helping in your quest for lasting love.
Dr Tim Bradstock-Smith ‘Private Dentist of the Year’ from the London Smile Clinic says: ‘First impressions are lasting, and your smile has an instant impact on people. Our teeth are constantly on show so it’s important for us to be happy and confident with them to make that good first impression.’
Our teeth contribute to the perfect smile, but what is this exactly? Surely not everyone finds the Simon Cowell whiter than white glare attractive?
‘My definition of the perfect smile is one that looks clean and healthy with bright, natural teeth,’ says Dr Tim. ‘If you don’t like your teeth then you won’t want to show them off, meaning you may be reluctant to smile. That will affect your self-confidence. A subtle smile can give off an attractive and intriguing element, whilst a nice wide smile can look friendly and inviting.’
Louise Marks, Brand Manager at BlanX UK agrees a smile paints a picture of the person behind it. ‘Your smile communicates so much about you - whether you’re feeling happy, flirtatious, mischievous,’ she says. ‘Your teeth are an integral part of your smile, framed by your lips, they’re the centrepiece of your face!’
While we can change our hair, clothes and make up easily altering our teeth take longer. ‘Teeth can’t be changed quickly, so they are seen as a reflection of the ‘true you’,’ adds Louise.
Another recent *survey found that 73% of people said that they look for a nice smile in their ideal partner, while only 40% said they look for a good physique.
‘A killer smile is universally attractive,’ says Dr Tim. And Dating Expert and Dating Coach James Preece agrees: ‘A smile shows empathy and showing your teeth is a primitive display that you are not a threat,’ he says. ‘So if a female gives a man a genuine warm smile it shows she is interested in being with him.’
He adds: ‘Teeth don’t need to be overly white to be considered attractive, just clean and natural looking.’
Dr Jenny Van Hooff, who is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Manchester Metropolitan University and author of ‘Modern Couples? Continuity and Change in Heterosexual Relationships’ says what we find attractive comes from a change in how we date. ‘The shift to online dating has perhaps made us a bit more superficial when it comes to dating,’ she says. ‘With potential partners dismissed for not having perfect teeth when they may have other qualities that could make them a good match.’
But surely bad teeth are a reasonable turn off? Jenny adds: ‘Poor oral hygiene and discoloured teeth can be an indicator of poor health or excessive drinking or smoking.’
James agrees: ‘If you have bad teeth then it suggests you are lazy and don’t care about your appearance,’ he says. ‘So definitely work on this if necessary.’
Dr Tim stresses the right lifestyle choices will enhance your smile too. ‘People can be laid back in their personal dental care,’ he says. ‘Smoking and drinking coffee isn’t great for the colour of your teeth, yet many people have these daily.’
No coffee and cigarettes. Noted. But what else can we do?
‘I am a great believer in flossing for healthy, clean and attractive looking teeth,’ says Dr Tim. ‘Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes and cut down on sugary foods and drinks.
‘Due to people’s hectic lifestyles dental care can be quite low in the list of priorities.’
Louise says we need to make time for our teeth. ‘People often don’t realise they’ve neglected their teeth until the damage is done,’ she says. ‘In today’s time-poor society we’re often looking for a quick fix but teeth and gums require daily care and attention.’
Louise’s top tips for a ‘Wow’ smile.
1. It’s never too late to form good habits. Make frequent trips to the dentist to start with.
2. Think of cleaning your teeth as part of your daily beauty routine - like moisturising or applying make up.
3. Make sure your toothbrush is in good condition, replace regularly.
4. Use a toothpaste that tackles staining, is gentle on enamel and helps your teeth look whiter such as BlanX White Shock formula £4.99.
5. Flossing and mouthwash should be part of our daily routine.
