David Beckham has the winning smile

Former England captain David Beckham has the best smile in football, according to a new survey.

The survey, carried out by the Dental Health Foundation, asked over a thousand people which footballer has the best and worst smile.

David Beckham, topped the polls with 43 percent of people giving him football’s best smile. Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo came second, while Frenchman and Barcelona player Thierry Henry followed closely in third position.

The survey results were released to mark National Smile Month (May 16 - June 16).

Even though an England player topped the rankings it was not all good news for the team.

Wayne Rooney was voted to have the worst smile, with 57 percent. And Chelsea’s troubled captain John Terry followed with 13 percent, giving him the second worst smile in the beautiful game.

A previous survey by the Foundation found that almost 70 percent of the public think those with a good smile have a greater chance of success. And over 50 per cent said that their first impressions of people were influenced by a person’s smile, with a good smile leaving a lasting impression.

Chief executive of the Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter said: “It is essential we keep our smiles looking good, as they are often the first thing people notice about us.

"A previous survey showed that two thirds of the public were more likely to speak to someone if they smiled - so that’s obviously the key to David Beckham’s popularity.

"It makes sense that a good smile could also impact our chances of success. If we’re smiling and feeling confident, we often perform better in the work place.”

During National Smile Month, the Foundation is promoting three key ways to protect your smile:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Cut down how often you have sugary foods and drinks
• Visit your dentist regularly

This article was published on Thu 27 May 2010