People who are going on a romantic date in the near future may wish to invest in teeth whitening or other cosmetic dentistry procedures.
The new Waterpik Sexy Smile Survey has discovered that oral hygiene is valued much more among prospective partners than traditional romantic gestures such as wearing perfume.
Indeed, 59 per cent of respondents said they would be disturbed if they found their partner had not brushed or flossed their teeth for a week, while only 24 per cent said they would be upset if they did not wear deodorant.
However, many people admitted their own oral hygiene regime leaves a lot to be desired, with 51 per cent only flossing just before they go to the dentist.
Jay McCulloch, vice president of marketing for Water Pik, said: “We were surprised at how important oral hygiene was in order to be attractive to your significant other.”
This follows a recent poll by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, which found that 96 per cent of adults believe a better smile – perhaps achieved by teeth whitening – can make a person more appealing to the opposite sex.