Bad breath and stained teeth are both a massive turn off when it comes to dating.
The dental-related drawbacks appear in a top 50 list compiled this week, with people who wore braces coming in last on the list.
Having a big nose, taking too many selfies and terrible body odour are also ‘no-nos’ when it comes to impressing a first date.
More than half (53%) said they form an opinion on someone in 15 minutes or less, and over half would ditch someone who seemed otherwise perfect but had one glaring flaw.
A survey recently revealed that only 4% of us are likely to tell someone if they had unpleasant breath. So, how best to ensure you’re not upsetting any potential loved ones?
Top tips include:
• Ensuring your brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day
• Interdental cleaning between teeth is essential for getting rid of food debris and smelly bacteria
• Invest in a tongue scraper – it may be a long-forgotten ancient practice but it’s important to clean the tongue in a bit to prevent bad breath
• Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water throughout the day to stop you getting dry mouth and wash away any food particles by stimulating saliva
• Chew sugarfree gum
• Quit smoking
• Visit your dentist of dental hygienist regularly.
The poll also showed wholesome traits were still valued as the most important qualities in a date, favouring a sense of humour and good hygiene over wealth and fashion sense, with non-smoking also a key consideration in a partner.
The poll of 2,000 people by e-cigarette company, blu, as part of their new ‘Six Weeks to Fall in Love’ offer, revealed bad body odour as the top turn-off.
THE TOP 50 TURN-OFFS
1. Body odour
2. Bad temper
3. Lying
4. Being selfish
5. Bad breath (cigarettes)
6. Bad breath (unidentified food)
7. No sense of humour
8. Yellow teeth
9. Eats disgustingly
10. Having dirty clothes
11. Being rude to waiters
12. Had nothing in common
13. Dirty fingernails
14. Smoking
15. Smelly feet
16. Talking about exes too much
17. Being sexist
18. Bad fake tan
19. Being jealous
20. Being obsessed with money
21. Took too many selfies
22. Being cheap
23. Bad breath (coffee)
24. Can’t handle alcohol
25. Referring to themselves in the third person
26. Someone who looks at themselves more than they look at you
27. Dandruff
28. Talked about babies/marriage on the first date
29. Someone who doesn’t make you a priority
30. Horrible perfume/aftershave
31. Had piercings
32. Being late
33. Annoying laugh
34. Being insecure
35. A nasal voice
36. Tattoos
37. Bad make-up
38. Friends didn’t like them
39. Bad haircut
40. Bad fashion sense
41. Obviously checking out your body
42. No career ambition
43. Too much perfume/aftershave
44. Big nose
45. Had rubbish taste in music
46. Still living with parents
47. Bad shoes
48. Had rubbish taste in TV
49. Living with parents
50. Wore a brace
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