Is a healthy mouth the key to getting a date?

In the image-obsessed culture we live in, many people point to the smile as the first thing they notice about the opposite sex.

That is the conclusion from a recent survey conducted, where a whopping 69 per cent of people chose not to date someone because of their bad teeth.

So, bad teeth can stop you from getting a date. That’s understandable. I mean, who wants to date someone with teeth worse than a cat? But what do people really think about bad teeth? According to the general public, missing and stained teeth don’t make them smile.

In total, 57 per cent of respondents labelled missing teeth as the oral health problem least desirable to the way you look, with stained teeth turning off nearly one in five people (18 per cent). At the other end of the spectrum, only two per cent of people thought fillings were the least desirable feature, with braces only putting off a measly six per cent of us.

Opinions were also sought on cracked teeth, uneven teeth and receding gums, problems that put off a combined total of roughly one in five (18 per cent) people.

The survey, which questioned more than 1,000 people, was conducted by oral health charity the British Dental Health Foundation ahead of National Smile Month, the UK’s largest oral health campaign.

According to Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter, the findings do not come as a great surprise.

Dr Carter said: “Images portrayed in the media of celebrities have lead to a society where image and the way we look is an important facet of daily life. Young people particularly associate celebrities with attractiveness, achievement and affluence, so it is only natural they will seek to mimic what they see on TV and in print.

“Whether it’s the way we dress, do our hair or invest time in dieting, image is a large driving force behind today’s culture.

“The same holds true for teeth.

"Celebrity smiles can be particularly endearing, so it is little wonder survey results indicate missing and stained teeth are the least desirable oral health issues for the way you look.

“Tooth loss can be attributed to a number of causes, but the most common reasons are tooth decay and gum disease. Since gum disease is totally preventable with a good home oral care routine this tooth loss is totally unnecessary and with a little extra care we can all keep out teeth for life.

“It is important that a good oral health routine is learnt at an early age which will set children up for a lifetime of healthy teeth. Simple things such as brushing for two minutes twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste, cleaning in between the teeth daily with interdental brushes or floss, cutting down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks and visiting the dentist regularly, as often as they recommend will help to prevent both tooth decay and gum disease and reduce the chances of losing any teeth.”

National Smile Month, taking place from 20 May to 20 June, is the ideal opportunity for people to find out more about what good oral health how to obtain it and how to keep it.

Over the 36 years of the campaign, there have been major advances in oral health, particularly when it comes to missing teeth. The proportion of the population with no natural teeth in England, Northern Ireland and Wales has fallen from as high as 37 per cent in 1978 to just six per cent in 2009. The number of adults with 21 or more natural teeth has risen to 86 per cent in England, Wales and Northern Ireland from as low as 68 per cent in 1978 in Northern Ireland.

Dr Carter added: “It is great to see oral health in the country improving over the years of the campaign has evolved, but there are still improvements to be made. By taking responsibility for your oral health, your teeth and your mouth, it’s clear from the survey desirability can improve too.”