Ever tried a toothless smile or holding your hand over your mouth while you grin? You’re not the only one.
According to a recent study of 605 New Zealanders aged 18-39 years old, 52 per cent of respondents have taken some action to avoid exposing their smile, with 33 per cent refusing to smile in photos, 29 per cent practising smiling without showing their teeth and 24 per cent holding a hand over their mouth while laughing.
The study, conducted by Galaxy on behalf of Invisalign Australia, found that while they’re busy hiding their smile, New Zealanders place a great value on having a good one – with 75 per cent of respondents regarding a nice smile as very important and 20 per cent saying it is essential. Only one per cent revealed they thought it was unimportant.
It seems a bad smile and dating just don’t mix, with 45 per cent saying they would be more deterred by bad teeth than living at home with their parents or having no fashion sense. 90 per cent said they would be more likely to start a conversation in a bar with someone who smiles a lot. Participants were also put off by dates who don’t smile at all.
If having the perfect smile came at a cost, New Zealanders would be willing to pay up, with 57 per cent willing to exchange a perfect smile for $10,000 in their superannuation fund. If they had to give up something for a year, 52 per cent revealed they would give up alcohol, 50 per cent Facebook, 46 per cent chocolate and 16 per cent sex.
So what do they consider the secret to a winning smile? Sixty-two per cent associate a nice smile with straight teeth. It was also found that 29 per cent are concerned with the straightness of the teeth, with 85 per cent dissatisfied with some aspect of their smile.
Patients always tell us that straightening their teeth ‘changed their life’, so we know that a great smile is about more than just aesthetics - it’s about confidence," says Invisalign Australia managing director Mark Van Weelde. "There’s nothing more inviting than a welcoming smile, and if you’re holding yours back, then you’re not showing the real you. Too often people underestimate the power of their smile - it’s great to see the research findings validating the importance of this essential asset.”
