If you want better teeth, let Cupid’s arrow find you, a collaborated study by the University of Queensland’s School of Dentistry and School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences says. The UQ researchers observed 265 adults to determine how the dynamics of romantic relationships affect oral health.

1. Finding a Significant
Other Can be Good for
Your Teeth,
Science Says
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2. If you want better teeth, let Cupid’s arrow find you, a collaborated study by the University of
Queensland’s School of Dentistry and School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences says. The UQ
researchers observed 265 adults to determine how the dynamics of romantic relationships affect oral
health.
Singletons Are more likely to Skip Going to the Dentist
According to one of the researchers, Grace Branjerdporn, people who tend to avoid emotional
intimacy were more likely to have poor oral health. The same goes with those who spend time
worrying their partner would not be available to them when they are in need.
The study also discovered that those who felt apprehensive about emotional intimacy and who were
in a way insecure about their relationships tended to skip preventive dental checkups. They were also
likely to say their oral health was poorer and be overly self-conscious about the appearance of their
teeth.

3. Dentists: Trust Your Partner for Better Oral Health
On the other hand, being in a relationship where you trust your partner and have a higher sense of
self-worth may lead to better oral health. You may acquire better dental-visiting habits, gain more
confidence with your teeth’s appearance, and rate your teeth better.
Attachment Insecurity and Oral Health
The study is a follow-up on a previous research that delved into the adult attachment theory and the
negative impacts attachment insecurity yields in adult relationships. Moreover, it found that people
who try to detach themselves emotionally from their partners may be reluctant to schedule
preventative dental appointments. This is because they shy away from seeking support, and tend to
have higher levels of self-reliance and distrust of others.

4. This is the first study to examine the links between patterns of attachment anxiety and avoidance,
self-rated oral health, and oral health habits among healthy individuals. There is, however, already
an emerging body of medical literature that aims to reveal the associations between decreased
healthcare-seeking behavior and insecure attachment.
References:
 https://www.caringsmilesdentalclinic.com/
 https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2016/11/why-lovebirds-have-better-teeth
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/articles/26238648/
 http://www.dmdtoday.com/news/study-links-relationship-insecurity-to-oral-health-habits