Smiles and confidence…latest research

New study shows three quarters of British adults believe their confidence would improve if their smile was corrected 

A recent national study questioned 2,027 UK adults on their satisfaction with their smile and their thoughts on wearing a visible fixed brace to improve their teeth. The survey was carried out by the British Dental Health Foundation, supported by Invisalign, in the run up to the 2014 National Smile Month campaign which launched on 19 May 2014.

The research revealed that 27% of Britons surveyed were dissatisfied with their smile and felt that this had a negative impact on an aspect of their life. Due to their concerns with the appearance of their teeth, 45% felt they had very low confidence and 70% never smile in photographs.

76% of all those queried believed that their confidence would increase the most if their smile could be corrected. To combat the anxiety that commonly comes with having an irregular smile many adults just don’t feel comfortable wearing a fixed brace and revealing a mouth full of metal when they smile or laugh. 36% of those surveyed would feel embarrassed to wear a visible fixed brace as an adult and 16% would worry about being laughed or pointed at for wearing a fixed appliance as an adult.

Interestingly, the study also revealed that men are more concerned than women that a visible brace would affect career and relationship prospects and therefore they would be more put off correcting their smile this way. Women were more concerned about their self-confidence and risk of embarrassment if they were to wear a brace.

One third of people questioned were not aware that Invisalign is different from traditional teeth straightening methods. It uses innovative computer technology to create a series of nearly invisible, clear, removable aligners which straighten the teeth, little by little, and unlike fixed braces, there are no wires or brackets. This means there is no metal and they are nearly invisible when you wear them.  It also means you can take them out to eat or drink so that cleaning your teeth while your teeth are being corrected is a doddle.

Because of their near invisibility a large number of celebrities and business people have opted for Invisalign clear aligners. Being in the public eye means that a perfect smile is crucial and so is an incredibly discrete method of achieving a more acceptable smile while continuing to work.  In fact 2.5 million people worldwide have discovered the benefits of Invisalign aligners, giving them more confidence to tackle the challenges of every-day life.