FEATURE/ Grin and bare them for National Smile Week; new survey reveals attitudes toward smiling.FORT COLLINS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--Aug. 3, 1995--David Letterman has the gap, Jimmy Carter's is huge and Cindy Crawford's is worth millions. A person's smile says a lot about them, but until recently lips were sealed on a smile's importance. To celebrate National Smile Week, Aug. 7-13, a new national survey of 1,000 men and women was recently conducted to reveal America's attitudes about smiling. The poll, commissioned by Teledyne Water Pik, revealed that the average person values their smile at $321,000. Forty percent of all respondents In the context of marketing research, a representative sample drawn from a larger population of people from whom information is collected and used to develop or confirm marketing strategy. said their teeth were worth more than $500,000. Women said that their smiles were worth an average of $353,000, while men only valued their pearly whites at $286,000. Generation Xers, often viewed as pessimistic pes·si·mism n. 1. A tendency to stress the negative or unfavorable or to take the gloomiest possible view: "We have seen too much defeatism, too much pessimism, too much of a negative approach" by older generations, placed the smallest value on their smiles, $266,000. Respondents age 65+, no doubt pleased with the healthy teeth they have remaining, placed the highest value on their teeth of any age group ($358,000). With such a hefty heft·y adj. heft·i·er, heft·i·est 1. Of considerable weight; heavy. 2. Rugged and powerful. See Synonyms at heavy. 3. price tag, it is comforting to know that Americans are making good use of their smiles. Poll participants estimated that they smile an average of 58 times per day. Results show that women smile 61.7 times daily, about 8 more times than men. The survey also revealed that money influences the number of times a person smiles. Respondents whose household income exceeded $50,000 per year smiled 63.8 times daily, while persons who earn less than $15,000 annually said they only smile 52 times per day. Poll participants were asked to pick an event associated with aging that concerns them the most. Choosing between losing teeth, needing glasses/stronger prescription, their next birthday or hair turning gray, 46% said losing their teeth as their greatest concern. The concern over tooth loss is legitimate. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. experts at Teledyne Water Pik, an oral care product manufacturer, 75% of adults over the age of 35 will contract some form of gum disease gum disease Dentistry Gingival disease, often in the form of gingivitis and bone loss 2º to toxins produced by bacteria in plaque accumulating along the gum line Clinical Early–painless bleeding; pain appears with advanced GD as bone loss around the , which is a leading cause of tooth loss. Despite Americans' wrap for being obsessed ob·sess v. ob·sessed, ob·sess·ing, ob·sess·es v.tr. To preoccupy the mind of excessively. v.intr. with sex, both men and women rated a person's smile as the single most important quality attracting them to the opposite sex. Forty-five percent of women chose a person's smile over the eyes (30%) and a good physique physique /phy·sique/ (fi-zek´) the body organization, development, and structure. phy·sique n. The body considered with reference to its proportions, muscular development, and appearance. (14%). Thirty-five percent of men are initially attracted to the smile, 33% to a good physique and 25% to the eyes. Regardless of the initial attraction, smiling is contagious contagious /con·ta·gious/ (-jus) capable of being transmitted from one individual to another, as a contagious disease; communicable. con·ta·gious adj. 1. Of or relating to contagion. . Seventy-two percent of respondents always smile back when someone smiles at them first. Women are much more likely than men to return a friendly grin, 79% vs. 65%. The poll also revealed that children bring about the most smiles (39%), followed by significant others/spouses (29%). In addition to loved ones loved ones npl → seres mpl queridos loved ones npl → proches mpl et amis chers loved ones love npl , certain foods or beverages can turn a frown into an ear-to-ear grin. Given a choice between ice cream, steak, chocolate, beer or nachos, 30% of Americans chose ice cream as the food most likely to make them smile. Thirty-three percent of women are crazy for chocolate, compared to only 15% of men, while 20% of men crack a smile for beer vs. only 4% of women. However, in order to keep that brilliant smile, you need to eat the right food. According to Sara Harms, Teledyne Water Pik vice president for oral health, "Candy and other foods that stay in the mouth longer create an acid bath, which attacks the teeth. This happens every time food with sugar or starch starch, white, odorless, tasteless, carbohydrate powder. It plays a vital role in the biochemistry of both plants and animals and has important commercial uses. is eaten." Harms recommends that people maintain a healthy diet and regularly visit their dental professional. Teledyne Water Pik is a world-wide leader in the development and manufacture of products that are designed to protect people's health and well-being. With more than 30 years in the manufacturing of oral health care products, Teledyne Water Pik has recently expanded its line with the introduction of the SenSonic(tm) Plaque Removal Instrument. The company is headquartered in Fort Collins. CONTACT: Schenkein/Sherman Public Relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most , Denver Kim Lundgren or Matt Baumeyer, 303/292-6655 |
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