Around one in four Irish adults skip brushing their teeth at least once a week, a new survey has revealed.

Over 1,100 adults were surveyed earlier this month and according to the findings, one in 10 has had their teeth professionally whitened, while at least one in five has tried whitening products at home.

Three-quarters of people admit that if they forgot to brush their teeth, they would be wary of bad breath and at least one in five would be reluctant to smile.

Meanwhile, one-third of people have shared their toothbrushes with others.

The research also noted that while most people believe that an electric toothbrush is better at cleaning and removing plaque than a manual toothbrush, just one-quarter of people actually use an electric one.

Actress, Julia Roberts, was seen as having the best female celebrity smile, followed by Amy Huberman. George Clooney topped the male poll.

The survey was carried out on behalf of Oral B.