May 19, 2004

By: Martin Murane
Website: http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com

A Smile – The Most Important Physical Asset

It’s official, first impressions count. Half of Britons are making instant judgements about people on the basis of their smile, according to a British Dental Health Foundation survey sponsored by Listerine for next week’s National Smile Week.

The UK’s leading independent oral health charity said the survey suggested people could be better off saving money on clothes and investing it in the health of their mouth instead.

Nearly one in three people (30 percent) claim when they first meet someone they judge them primarily by their smile – compared to only one in eight (12 percent) who make judgements based mainly on dress sense.

And what’s more, over two-thirds of the people surveyed agreed that having a good smile not only helps build people’s confidence psychologically and socially – but it also helps their love life, too. After all, when your romantic date smiles at you in the candlelight, you’re hoping for a Tom Cruise rather than a Shane McGowan.

The Listerine-backed survey also showed how what we should be doing to improve our smiles. 40 percent of us think that having pearly white teeth is the most important aspect of a good smile, while more than a quarter rate straight, even teeth as an absolute must.

The first step to a confident smile is to make sure there’s no problem with your basic oral health. Tooth decay and gum disease can look unsightly and cause bad breath, as well as potentially leading to more serious health problems.

The British Dental Health Foundation recommends a three-point oral hygiene routine as the basis to make you more confident about your smile:

• - brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• - cut down on how often you eat sugary snacks and drinks
• - visit your dentist for a check-up at least once a year
• - change your toothbrush every three months
• - floss once a day to remove particles of food your brush can’t reach
• - rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash

If a basic dental health routine isn’t enough to make you feel confident about your smile, there are a number ways to improve the appearance of your teeth.

These range from simple economical measures to major – and more costly - investment:

• - Whitening toothpastes can remove food and drink stains
• - Teeth can be professionally whitened at the dentist
• - Braces, which can be practically invisible, can be used to straighten teeth
• - Veneers can be fitted to close gaps and improve the colour of teeth

Finally, its a good thing to know the survey found that 21 percent of people think a twinkle in the eye is the most attractive part of a smile – and eight percent think an open-mouthed smile is important. So these are ways you can boost your confidence without breaking the bank!





Author Notes:

Martin Murane contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com.  Everything you need to know to get a whiter, brighter smile!