Almost half of us (49 per cent) say a natural looking smile is their personal favourite, with a straightened smile (20 per cent) and whitened teeth (18 per cent) completing the top trio of looks.
Previous smile trends such as ‘the gap’ and tooth jewellery appear to have gone out of fashion, with the two receiving less than three per cent of the total vote.
More research from the British Dental Health Foundation has shown which celebrity smile comes out on top, with Holly Willoughby and David Beckham topping their respective lists.
The results, released by the oral health charity as part of National Smile Month, aims to remind us that our mouth, teeth and smile are fundamental to all aspects of our life – whether that be our career, personality, relationships, attraction or all round good health.
Celebrities are often seen as role models in society, and the visible standard of their oral hygiene is no exception. It is for this reason Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Nigel Carter OBE, is delighted to see natural topping this particular poll.
Nigel said: “It is no coincidence that we associate a confident, radiant smile with images of people and celebrities we see every day who we consider to be special. There is no getting away from the fact there is a growing trend towards cosmetic dentistry but it is pleasing to see so many of us are favouring the natural look.
“The growing clamour for cosmetic work may be a result of the way celebrities present themselves, but we must not forget the basics of good oral hygiene. National Smile Month is a great opportunity to learn how simple and effective it can be.
“Brushing our teeth last thing at night and at least one other time during the day with fluoride toothpaste, cutting down on how often we eat and drink sugary foods and drinks and visiting our dentist regularly, as often as they recommend, will help develop good oral health. Other habits such as chewing sugar-free gum after meals and cleaning in between your teeth using interdental brushes can also improve oral health.”
National Smile Month, taking place from May 18 to June 18, is the nation’s annual reminder of good oral health.