Study: 56% of Americans say smile insecurity hurts confidence

A new SmileSet survey of 1,200 U.S. adults finds that smile self-consciousness is shaping how Americans pose, work, date and post online. The report says the pressure to look polished is driving people to hide their teeth, use AI editing tools and regret not smiling more openly.

Why it matters: - Smile insecurity is affecting everyday confidence for a majority of Americans, and the impact shows up in photos, workplace interactions and dating. - The survey suggests the pressure to manage appearance is growing as more life happens on cameras and social platforms. - The findings point to a broader link between self-image and how people participate in public and professional settings.

What happened: - SmileSet released a survey of 1,200 U.S. adults conducted through Pollfish. - Fifty-six percent of respondents said smile self-consciousness affects their overall confidence at least a moderate amount. - Twenty-nine percent said the effect on confidence is a great deal. - Sixty-five percent said improving their smile would increase their everyday confidence. - The survey also examined photo habits, workplace interactions, dating, AI editing and regrets about hiding natural expressions. - The report was released Aug. 3, 2026. - A full report is available in the study.

The details: - Sixty-four percent said they hide or change their smile when taking photos. - Fifty-five percent default to a closed-mouth smile in photos, even when they are genuinely happy. - Fifty-seven percent hide or change their smile in photos posted to social media. - Fifty-five percent do so around people they have just met. - Forty-eight percent alter their smile while on a date. - Forty-eight percent change or conceal it in the workplace. - Forty-two percent do so during work-related video calls. - Forty percent suppress their smile while laughing unexpectedly. - Twenty-eight percent said they intentionally suppress or change their natural smile every day. - Only 16% said they are likely to hide their smile around close friends. - Men were more likely than women to suppress their natural smiles daily, 36% to 22%. - Men were also more likely to use a closed-mouth smile in photos, 63% to 47%. - Eighty-three percent said their smile looks different in photographs than it does in real life. - Fifty-four percent have asked to be untagged from a photo. - Forty-five percent carefully select photos based on how their smile looks. - Forty-five percent have deleted photos because of their smile. - Forty-four percent frequently avoid having their picture taken. - Forty-one percent frequently ask for a photo to be retaken. - Women were more likely than men to delete an image because of their smile, 51% to 39%. - Women and men were equally likely to avoid the camera altogether, at 41% each. - Tooth color was the most common smile insecurity, cited by 41% of respondents. - That concern was higher among women, at 50%, than men, at 29%. - Thirty-six percent said they were dissatisfied with how their smile looks when their teeth are visible. - That share rose to 45% among Generation Z. - Thirty-one percent feel insecure about the alignment or shape of their teeth. - Thirty percent said their smile does not feel natural in photos. - Twenty-three percent have been told their teeth look stained. - Twenty percent have been told their smile looks forced or unnatural. - Sixteen percent have been told their teeth are crooked. - Sixty percent said they had received at least one negative comment about their teeth, mouth or smile. - Among Generation Z, 32% said someone had told them their smile appeared forced or unnatural. - Fifty-six percent said smile self-consciousness affects their overall confidence. - Forty-eight percent said it affects how openly they express themselves and connect with other people. - Forty-six percent said smile insecurity had held them back in romantic situations. - Fifty-seven percent said improving their smile would make them feel more confident while dating. - Forty-four percent said smile self-consciousness had held them back at work. - Thirty-two percent said they are often or always aware of how others perceive their smile during meetings, interviews or other workplace interactions. - Men reported greater professional smile awareness than women, 38% to 26%. - Fifty-six percent said they had used artificial intelligence tools at least occasionally to edit photographs or manage their appearance before posting online. - Twenty-two percent said they had used artificial intelligence specifically to improve their smile in a photo. - Seventy-three percent said their smile influences whether they post a picture at all. - Men were more likely than women to use AI tools to edit their appearance, 66% to 47%. - Millennials were more likely than Baby Boomers to use AI photo editing tools, 59% to 14%. - Forty-one percent purposely avoid showing their teeth when smiling. - Thirty-five percent have practiced a dedicated photo smile. - Twenty-six percent have researched professional whitening or straightening. - Twenty-three percent have used at-home cosmetic treatments. - Sixty-two percent said they sometimes regret not smiling more openly in past photographs, events or social occasions. - Regret was highest among Millennials, at 76%, followed by Generation Z at 65% and Baby Boomers at 44%. - Men reported more regret than women, 65% to 56%. - Fifty-six percent said they compare their smile with other people’s smiles. - Men were more likely than women to compare smiles, 61% to 50%.

Between the lines: - The findings suggest smile anxiety is no longer just about appearance. It is affecting behavior in settings where people want to seem confident, likable and competent. - The high use of AI editing shows how digital tools are being used to manage insecurity, not just enhance presentation. - The survey also hints at a trust gap, with many people feeling comfortable showing their natural smile only around close friends. - Negative comments appear to have a lasting effect, shaping how respondents pose and interact long after the moment passes.

What's next: - As video calls, social media and edited photos become more central to daily life, the pressure to control facial expressions is likely to remain. - SmileSet is positioning at-home aligner treatment as one option for people looking to improve confidence in their smile. - The report suggests demand may continue for whitening, straightening and other cosmetic treatments tied to self-image.

The bottom line: - For many Americans, smiling has become something to manage instead of something automatic.