The Professional Teeth Whitening.com Smile Survey was
conducted by telephone by Harris. The study was conducted on a
representative sample of 1000 American adults both men and
women between 18 and 50 years of age. The poll was the first
national survey of its kind and explored the importance of
smiles in relation to business and careers, dating and marriage,
the social arena, and the overall value of smiles and
self-esteem.
Smiles and the Social Arena
94% of those polled said they are likely
to notice a person's smile when they meet them for the first
time. People are less likely to notice someone's eyes, height or
figure. More than one half (71%) believe people with a nice smile
make friends more easily than people with crooked teeth. Over one
third agree bad teeth overshadows the rest of a person's
appearance. An overwhelming majority of adults (85%) consider a
person's smile to be very important at initial meeting.
Smiles and Self Esteem
- Almost two-thirds (64%) agree that
people with a nice smile are more outgoing.
- 77% think that wearing braces as
an adult makes a person feel self conscious.
- Over one third of adults would
trade a trip abroad, new wardrobe or other aesthetic surgery for
* straight teeth.
- 87% think one's smile is very
important to their self esteem.
- When asked
which facial characteristic they would change if they could, one
in four adults (25%) would change their teeth/smile. Smaller
proportions would change their skin (17%) or nose (13 %).
Smiles and the
Opposite Sex
84% of adults perceive having an
attractive smile as important for getting a date with Mr. or Ms.
Right. Over one-third would not be likely to set up their best
friend on a blind date with someone with crooked teeth. One-third
would not be likely to kiss someone with crooked teeth. An
overwhelming majority of adults (85%) consider a person's smile
to be very or somewhat important at first meeting. Almost 9 out
of 10 (86%) think people with good teeth are more attractive to
the opposite sex.
Harris Interactive
Nasdaq: HPOL), the global leader in online market research, uses
Internet based and traditional methodologies to provide its
clients with information about the views, experiences, behaviors
and attitudes of people worldwide. Through its U.S. and Global
Network offices, Harris Interactive conducts research in more
than 80 different countries, in more than 30 different
languages *Psychology Today:
September 1, 1998
