Our teeth can have a big influence on our self-image, as many people who have had cosmetic dentistry treatments will agree. Unfortunately, some people feel really insecure about their smile - but how much attention do people pay to each other’s teeth?
At Affordable Dentures & Implants, we have conducted new research into how Americans feel about their smile, and whether the condition and appearance of their teeth affects their confidence. Our survey went out to 4000 Americans aged 18 and over, to find out how they feel about their own oral health, and to see how much they notice each other’s teeth, too.
Overall, over a fifth of Americans at 23% said they don’t show their teeth when they smile because they felt insecure. 16% said they were not happy with their teeth, but 7% went further and said they “hate” their teeth.
The survey asked people to rate how confident they felt smiling with all their teeth showing, on a scale of 1 to 10. The average score was 6.11. While 17% gave an answer of 10 out of 10, very confident, 12% gave an answer of only 1 out of 10.39% of Americans gave an answer of 5 out of 10 or below.
When asked about whether they worry about their teeth and their oral health, 70% said they do at least some of the time. A third, at 33%, said they are “always worried” about their teeth. For 13%, just thinking about their teeth made them feel stressed, and a quarter, at 25%, were “anxious” about their teeth and oral health.
Our research also aimed to investigate how much attention we pay to each other’s teeth. 82% said they notice other people’s teeth, and for 36% of Americans, it’s among the first things they notice about someone.
We showed the survey respondents the picture below and asked them what the first thing they noticed about it was. What’s the first thing you see?
Across the country
Here are the top ten states where people gave the highest rating from 1 to 10 when asked to say how confident they felt smiling with all their teeth showing.
And in contrast, here are the ten states where people showed the least confidence about their smile.
The region where people rated their confidence with the lowest score was the Midwest, where the average rating was 6.03. The region with the highest score, the West, still rounds down to 6 at 6.29.
People in Illinois were slightly more likely to say they sometimes felt worried about their teeth at 74% compared to the national average of 70%. In Ohio, 73% of people gave this answer, as did 73% of people in Virginia.
36% of people in both Indiana and Ohio said they were “always worried” about their teeth, compared to the national average of 33%.
In terms of how much attention we pay to each other’s teeth, there were a few regional differences too. Across the whole of the US, 36% of people said teeth are one of the first things they notice about someone. Slightly more people than average in Georgia said someone’s teeth is one of the first things they notice about them, at 40%. 39% of people in Ohio gave this answer, too.
Differences between men and women
Women are slightly unhappier with their teeth than men, with 28% of women saying they do not smile showing all their teeth compared to 19% of men. Women were almost twice as likely to say they hate their teeth, with 9% of women giving this answer compared to 5% of men.
When asked to rate how confident they feel smiling with all their teeth showing on a scale of 1 to 10, men had a higher score than women, with an average score of 6.47. In contrast, women’s average score was 5.75. Women were also more likely to give a rating of 1 out of 10, with 15% of women giving this answer, compared to 9% of men.
Women were more likely to worry about their teeth. 33% of men said they never worry about their teeth compared to 29% of women.
Lastly, women were also slightly more likely to notice someone else’s teeth. 19% of men said they don’t pay attention to other people’s teeth, compared to 16% of women.
Younger and older people’s attitudes
The percentage of people who do not show their teeth when they smile peaks at the age group 45-54, the age group who were most likely to give this answer at 30%. As people get older it falls again. The age group who are happiest with their teeth are those aged 25-34, only 16% of whom do not show their teeth when they smile.
The age group who gave the lowest score out of 10 when it comes to rating their confidence when they smile is those aged 45-54, who gave a rating of 5.71 out of 10 on average.
The age group who were most likely to say that teeth are one of the first things they notice about someone were 25-34 year olds, at 43% - that’s significantly higher than 36%, the average across all age groups. In contrast, only 28% of those aged 65 and over gave this answer.
Overall, this survey revealed just how many Americans feel self-conscious about their teeth. While this varies across the country, it’s clear how much of an impact this part of the body has on how confident people feel. The survey also showed that people notice each other’s teeth above other aspects of their appearance - although we’re sure their intention in most cases isn’t to be judgemental, people do pay attention to what each other’s teeth look like.
If you are unhappy with your smile because of unhealthy or missing teeth, Affordable Dentures & Implants can help. If you are looking for high-quality affordable tooth replacement solutions, look up your local practice today and we will be glad to help restore your smile.