A study has confirmed what we already know – that a white and evenly spaced set of teeth makes people seem more attractive. But it has also explained the reason. It is because teeth are the human equivalent of a peacock's tail – a sign of health and genetic quality designed to help choose a mate.
While the idea of what is attractive may be subjective, it can be argued that everyone finds straight, healthy, pearly-white teeth appealing. Since the physical condition of one's teeth has a significant impact on their smile, most people are paying more attention to both that and their oral health.
A nice smile with straight teeth will improve how others perceive your personality and your attractiveness. People with bright, straight healthy teeth demonstrate high self-esteem and radiate confidence.
Having straight teeth can improve your smile significantly. Not only can it make you look more attractive, but it can also make you feel more confident. Having healthy self-esteem impacts every aspect of your life. It allows you to feel confident and at ease in social settings.
Statistics show that only 35% of Americans are born with straight teeth. And while achieving a perfect smile is the number one reason why people go to an orthodontist, orthodontic treatment can also help you preserve the health of your teeth for longer.
Believe it or not, only 35 percent of adults have perfect teeth.
A whopping 60% of men say that good teeth are the “most important consideration in a potential date,” and 71% of women rank teeth as the “most important factor in deciding to date someone.” Who knew that the appearance of your teeth could actually have a serious impact on your dating life?
Square-shaped maxillary incisors were perceived as the least attractive overall (43.3 per cent) and by the dentists (47 per cent), technicians (50 per cent) and patients (33 per cent).
So, how do the vast majority of celebs, from Matt Damon to Emma Watson, achieve such perfect teeth? One word: veneers. Cosmetic dentistry (veneers and no-prep veneers in particular) is the only sure-fire way to get a Hollywood-level smile.
A study in the American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics discovered that people with straight teeth and ideal smiles were viewed as more intelligent and more likely to be hired for a job. Subjects in another study rated people with straight teeth as happier, more successful, smarter, and wealthier.
There's no arguing it, people like white teeth – on themselves and on others. Perhaps this is because white teeth appear healthier and cleaner. Some scientists also guess that having white teeth is a sign of good genetics, which is attractive to potential mates.
Square-shaped teeth are not very sharp, but they look nice and healthy, so it makes your smile look natural and attractive. People also tend to prefer straighter teeth, but that is highly subjective because everyone has their taste.
Perfectly straight teeth are something that everybody would love to have. Some people are lucky enough to be born with naturally straight teeth and some people require orthodontic devices such as braces to have straight teeth. Either or, having straight teeth can be a huge boost to your self-confidence.
Genes play a part
People who have lovely, straight, well-shaped teeth often have parents with lovely, straight, well-shaped teeth, funnily enough. Teeth, like other parts of your body, can be a combination of your genes. And, like other genetic body things, they don't have to be directly from your parents, either.
Now orthodontists around the country offer braces after they became popular in the 90s and 2000s. It may surprise you that primitive versions of orthodontic treatments have been found on ancient Egyptian mummies, and the first modern form of braces dates back to the 17th century!
Similar to the effects of tooth wear, shifting teeth provide less support to your cheeks and lips, creating a collapsed, saggy appearance. Experts say that straightening your teeth can make you look 10 to 15 years younger.
In one particular study, researchers found that smaller smiles with a medium mouth angle were the most beautiful, while huge, toothy smiles with a high, V-shaped angle were less attractive. Keep your smile natural instead of over-exaggerating it—you'll be surprised at how much of a difference it makes!
A survey by a popular dating site discovered that 58% of men and 71% of women evaluate a potential date's pearly whites. The Kelton Global research also discovered that individuals with straight teeth are 57% likelier to get a first date.
"Smiling makes you attractive in two ways: Physically, because who doesn't love seeing a big smile across a woman's face?" says one man.
Studies have shown that those with whiter smiles and evenly spaced teeth are seen as more attractive than those with opposite qualities. Another study has confirmed those with perfect teeth are perceived as more successful, more intelligent, and have more dates.
When it comes to the best overall dental health, Denmark takes the #1 spot. With a DMFT (decayed, missing, or filled teeth) index score of 0.4, Danish citizens have pretty perfect teeth. Germany, Finland, Sweden, and the UK all have scores below 1.0, making them the five countries with the healthiest teeth.
The data indicates Denmark has the best oral health of all the countries in the entire world. If you are looking for the country with the best teeth and oral hygiene, then we gladly announce that your search could end in Denmark. Realistically speaking, achieving a DMFT score even lower than 0.4 is next to impossible.
All of those factors are strongly influenced by genetics — so if you have your mom's lips, that may also mean you have your mom's teeth. That could mean inheriting a straight set of teeth from your parents, but it could also mean inheriting some unattractive crookedness that you may need to correct with braces.
Your cavemen ancestors actually had wide jaws with roomy, aligned teeth and arches that any dentist or your ARCH orthodontist in Greater Boston and Cape Cod would love to treat. It seems that as time moved on, our jaws and bite changed too.