New research by the Oral Health Foundation has revealed that breath is the number one reason people would not ask somebody on a second date.
The study showed that 35% of people would find bad breath to be the biggest turn off, followed by ‘bad chat’ with 11% of respondents, and 2% of respondents stating that being badly dressed is their biggest turn off.
“This research highlights the very important, and close, relationship between oral health and attraction,” Dr Nigel Carter OBE, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation, said.
“We all know that a healthy smile can be a very powerful instrument for attracting a partner and avoiding bad breath is a key part of achieving this,” he continued. “Bad breath is a very common problem and there are many different causes, it’s not always down to that cheese and onion sandwich at lunchtime.”
“If someone suffers from persistent bad breath it is usually caused by the smelly gases released by the bacteria that coat your teeth, gums and tongue,” Dr Carter explained. “Bad breath is relatively easy to treat, as long as you brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.”