George Clooney or Simon Cowell

Since February is the month of romance, let’s cover the subject of physical appeal. We can’t seem to get away from it the remainder of the year, what with magazine covers, billboards and television barraging us with images of gorgeous women and chiseled men. Apart from their conventional good looks, they all share one thing in common: a great set of teeth.

Over 2000 people were surveyed in Great Britain on the subject of attractiveness and teeth. Seems women in their late 40s and early 50s are the most inclined to have cosmetic dentistry. Overall, the study revealed that nearly 1/3 of people age 45-54 have had some cosmetic dentistry vs. 20% of 18-24 year olds.

The same study also revealed that those seeking a new smile would prefer the more natural look of celebrities such as George Clooney to the dazzling white “Hollywood” grins of the likes of Simon Cowell. The academy’s Dr James Goolnick said “People want a nice healthy smile that looks natural. They don’t want people to say, ‘Where did you get that done? ‘”

The survey also found that almost a fifth are so concerned about the state of their teeth that they refuse to smile when photographed.

Another independent study conducted on behalf of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry discovered that the most common answer to the question “what would you most like to improve about your smile?” was whiter teeth.

According to the same survey:
-99.7% of Americans believe a smile is an important social asset.
-96% of adults believe an attractive smile makes a person more engaging to members of the opposite sex.
-74% of adults believe an unattractive smile can lessen a person’s chances for career success.
-88% say they remember someone with an attractive smile.

Only half of Americans are satisfied with their smiles.