Oral Health and Dating: Could Your Smile be a Red Flag?

When it comes to relationships, the focus often goes to shared interests and chemistry. But have you ever considered the role your smile plays in your love life? Research performed by dating and lifestyle platforms like Match and Marriage.com shows that oral health can absolutely affect romantic relationships! If you’re curious how much of an impact this aspect of your hygiene has, continue reading.

1. Oral Health and First Impressions

Imagine someone showing you several pictures of potential dates and then giving you 10 seconds to pick three. What qualities would you look for? Chances are, you’d choose the pictures with the best smile. Match.com suggests that 70 percent or more of their users prefer people with nice smiles even if they’ve never met!

2. Confidence Matters

It’s no secret that confidence is an attractive trait. When you’re confident about your smile, you’re more likely to engage with your date, strengthening your connection. Making eye contact, listening, and acting genuinely are all signs of confidence. Coincidentally, they are also some of the best green flags to have in the dating scene.

3. Enhance Your Communication

Effective communication is important in any relationship, but it’s absolutely critical in romance! Surprisingly, your smile plays a role here too. Clear speech, facial expressions, and positive smells all contribute to better communication. If you tend to cover your mouth during conversations or if your breath smells bad, it could cause your date to pull away and disengage.

4. Oral Health and Intimacy

Your dental health not only affects short-term encounters but can also affect long-term relationship stability. Personal hygiene is an important indicator of care and responsibility. After all, if you can’t take care of your own teeth, how will you help a potential partner? This is not to mention that oral bacteria can be spread to your partner through kissing. If you have cavities or gum disease, you could inadvertently pass it along!

As you can see, your oral health has a significant role in your relationship from first sight onward. So, make a healthy, attractive smile a priority on your list of potential enhancements to up your dating game. It will almost certainly enhance your overall dating satisfaction and unlock your relationship’s full potential!

About the Author

Dr. Stephen Wardlaw knows that a bright and healthy smile says a lot about you, and he wants every word to be positive. He earned his dental doctorate from the Baylor College of Dentistry and has since then been committed to improving his skills through advanced training and continuing education. If you’re looking for a passionate dental expert who prioritizes your comfort, look no further. Call (817) 572-5115 to schedule an appointment at I-20 Family Dental, or visit the website to learn more.