When an American journalist praised Ricky Gervais for wearing unattractive false teeth to prepare for his role as a British dentist, the actor wasn’t exactly flattered … mostly because they weren’t false, they were his real teeth. Reeling in embarrassment, Gervais said, “It’s like the biggest difference between Brits and Americans – they’re obsessed with perfect teeth!”
Glancing at Angelina Jolie’s perfect bite to Julia Roberts’ stunning smile, we have to ask: Does America have an unusual obsession with pearly whites?
Today, cosmetic dentistry is the “largest non-surgical beauty industry after makeup.” As of 2016, the teeth whitening business, which began in the 1990s, is now an $11 billion industry. The number of North American teenagers in orthodontic treatment has now doubled to 80 percent, with the average patient around seven years of age.
In fact, American children are straightening their teeth early to prevent a life of no second dates and lost job opportunities. Dentist and orthodontist-sponsored studies consistently reveal that life for a crooked smile pretty much sucks. A study from 2012 claimed that “38 percent of Americans would rule out a second dates with someone with misaligned teeth” and those with straight teeth are “38 percent more likely to be perceived as smart.”
Surprisingly, Americans actually “prefer a nice smile to clear skin” and will go to great lengths to achieve the perfect look, even if it means giving up fun desserts (39 percent) and vacations (37 percent) to be able to afford extensive orthopedic care.
Japanese women spend chunks of change to sport “yaeba” teeth commonly known as “snaggletooth.” British folks embrace the natural state of their teeth. So what accounts for this “dental divide”? According to Liz Kay, Dean of Peninsula Dental School (via the BBC), “Americans see uniformity as looking good, whereas Brits are more care-free and radical.”
The BBC article “American vs. British Teeth” concludes that British people may have a more “functional” view of dentistry and teeth than America does. Considering that in the United States, teeth are “whiter than it is physically possible to get in nature,” this conclusion may not be far from target.
In fact, the culture of tooth whitening with peroxides, LED blue lights and veneers, might not be such a healthy obsession, says Jimmy Steele, professor at School of Dental Science at Newcastle University. The American Dental Association says that tooth sensitivity and tissue irritation can occur after using tooth whitening products but are usually temporary. However, “irreversible tooth damage has been reported,” though rarely.
While a straight white smile is the paragon of dental beauty, according to Marc Ackerman, director of orthodontics at Boston Children’s Hospital, there is no “definitive evidence” that a perfectly aligned white smile indicates better oral health, especially when controlled for hygiene. Yet American parents and adults shell out thousands for themselves and their children to attain the American smile.
Oddly enough, for a country keen on a bleached white smile, Americans sure love tooth-staining beverages like coffee.
