Aah Summer. The sun is shining, people are laughing and smiling, and what’s that glinting in the sunlight? Perfectly white teeth. We can’t help but notice beautiful smiles and bright pearly whites. Let’s face it, white teeth are mesmerising.
But why precisely are we drawn to brilliant white smiles? What is it about glistening teeth that’s so, well, attractive?
Your Smile Is Your First Impression
When you first meet or greet someone, you (hopefully) smile a warm welcome at each other, and all of a sudden your pearly whites are on show. So when you’re meeting someone for the first time, and you’re trying to suss them out, teeth play a huge role in that first level of attraction.
Think of it this way: if you meet someone who’s dressed smartly, you’ll be more impressed than if they’d turned up in a tracksuit. Discoloured teeth can have the same effect — they’re like slacks for your smile. But white enamel, on the other hand, is every tooth’s Sunday best.
White teeth show you’ve put in the effort to look fantastic. With a bright smile, you’ll look sharper and draw people in from the first meeting.
White Teeth Make You Look Younger
The older we get, the more our teeth start to decay. So when we see someone with perfectly white teeth, with no sign of decay to indicate age, they look younger.
Generally speaking, most people are naturally attracted to youthful appearances because youthfulness links to fertility. You might not be on the lookout for a fertile individual, but the primal part of your brain will be.
White Teeth Imply Great Personal Hygiene
Bad brushing or poor hygiene isn’t necessarily the cause of discoloured teeth — age or even diet could be responsible. Even the healthiest of natural teeth don’t have the same white glow that comes from professional teeth whitening. But still, when we see yellowing teeth, we can’t help but assume the worst — poor self-care. And unfortunately, this can be a big turn off.
Whether you’re just getting to know someone, or you’re already in a fully-fledged relationship, if you suspect someone has a poor sense of hygiene, it can throw a spanner in the works of a relationship. It can put you off of having close conversations, and you might shy away from meaningful relationships or friendships with them.
However, when we catch a glimpse of beautifully white teeth, our minds are filled with thoughts of cleanliness and great personal hygiene. So if you’re on a date with someone with dazzling teeth, they might be a keeper.
A Bright Smile Oozes Confidence
People with beautifully white teeth are normally much more confident than those who aren’t 100% happy with their smile. They’re more likely to show off their pearly whites in an ear-to-ear grin and they’ll be less self-conscious about their appearance.
Confidence is one of the most attractive qualities someone can have — it shows both power and positivity, and it can be quite mesmerising.
White Teeth Look Healthier
Discoloured teeth don’t just imply poor personal hygiene. They can also be a sign of poor health or a result of poor diet and lifestyle choices. But white teeth, on the other hand, make people look much healthier.
With white teeth, there’s no sign of decay caused by sugary snacks or lack of brushing. And — consciously or unconsciously — we are naturally more attracted to healthy people.
Pearly Whites Are a Sign of Good Genes
Let’s return for a second to that primal part of our brains. Our primal instincts are a little stuck in the past — they don’t quite understand modern dating or relationships. So while you’re looking for a romantic partner who’s clever, funny or kind, that primal instinct is simply looking for good genes.
And when you see a glistening white smile, that instinct shouts “BINGO”! Perfectly white, straight teeth not only show you’re healthy, but that you’ve inherited healthy genes that have helped your teeth grow strong.
Good Teeth Make You Seem More Wealthy
Cosmetic dentistry has become a Hollywood norm and beautiful smiles are now associated with celebrities and the wealthy. Most people know the typical bright white smiles you see on the red carpets aren’t natural — untreated teeth just aren’t that white. So most people can recognise when cosmetic dentistry has played its part in a stunning smile.
But because cosmetic dentistry isn’t usually covered by insurance or national health care, people often assume beautiful smiles have cost a lot of money. But nowadays a smile makeover doesn’t have to cost megabucks. There are plenty of affordable cosmetic dentistry options out there, including professional teeth whitening.