Make sure you’re smiling this Valentine’s Day

In a recent survey carried out by the British Dental Health Foundation, a whopping 40% of respondents declared that the biggest turn-off when it came to other people’s teeth was when food pieces were caught between the teeth. Other smile offences included bad breath, stained teeth and a failure to brush twice a day. Obviously as a nation we are concerned about our oral hygiene and that of others, but just how important is it when it comes to meeting new potential partners? And how can we make sure we give ourselves the best chances in love?

Last year Dr Nigel Carter OBE, the Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, spoke about our tendency as a nation on February 14th was to focus on elements such as what we are wearing, or how we’ll do our hair when preparing for a romantic evening. Dr Carter proposed that actually it should be our teeth and our smile that we focus on as well, as this has an impact on our relationships. When we smile, we appear more confident and are more endearing to others. Therefore, flashing your smile can have a positive impact on relationships…provided you’ve not got a piece of your lunch stuck between your front teeth!

We can also tell a lot about a person from their teeth and smile. If a potential love match has a good smile supported by a good oral hygiene routine, this is likely to indicate that they have good hygiene and a healthy lifestyle in general. You might also be able to tell if somebody smokes, and what they eat and drink, as well as their overall cleanliness level. So make sure your smile reflects you as a person.

This Valentine’s Day we thought we’d bring you some tips to help you improve your oral hygiene (and maybe help you to be lucky in love too!). Follow these steps to perfect your smile:

1.Brush your teeth twice a day, every day. Each brushing should last two minutes, and you should aim to cover all areas of your teeth

2.Clean in between your teeth at least once a day. Use an interdental brush or dental floss to make sure you get into all those gaps

3.Make sure you replace your tooth brush at least every three months

4.Keep up your regular dentist check-ups. Your dentist will be able to advise you on how often you should visit them for these

5.Book in an extra check-up if you notice any changes in your mouth, or with your teeth

6.Cut down on sugary foods and drinks as much as possible, and improve your chances of avoiding tooth decay