Just wondering....
I`ve lived outside America for most of my adult life, so I want to ask everyone, when did American people`s teeth get so white? What`s up with that? I didn`t notice this the last time we lived here in `98.
My parents had my teeth straightened when I was young, at great expense. When I went to France when I was 15, lots of people there told me they "knew I was American" by my "nice smile."
But straight teeth alone is no longer the sign that someone is a middle class American (or else someone blessed with a fine mouth or a great dental plan). Now people`s teeth need to be really white, too -- like brand new kitchen appliances, or cattle bones that have been out in the desert sun a long time.
My teeth are straight, but small and rat-like, somewhat discolored after several decades of coffee and red wine consumption. One of my old friends, who hadn`t seen me in a few years, offered to introduce me to her dentist, who "can work wonders." I just looked at her blankly -- I have no pain or cavities, and I can chew just fine. It occurred to me later she meant cosmetic wonders.
I have made many new friends since moving here in July, and I`ve noticed something funny. Out of the people with whom I feel most comfortable and familiar, from all different socioeconomic backgrounds, not a single one has really white teeth. Many have crooked teeth, and a few even have missing teeth. What`s up with that? Are we a lost tribe of weak-enameled folk who found each other psychically?
I will leave you with one more question: why is it, that when I have to go pick up Little Son at a playdate at the house of one of his trendy preschool friends, whose mother looks like a model with a waist as big as my leg and teeth that practically glow in the dark, I always seem to be a dumpy, puffy wreck, with stringy hair and a big sore on my lip? Why is that?
Just wondering.
(Edited to say, I wasn`t speaking metaphorically -- I really do have a big sore on my lip now, and I never feel uglier than when I have a big sore on my lip. It doesn`t hurt much, but I feel as if everyone is staring at it because it`s so big and scabby and gross. Sorry, TMI there.)
My parents had my teeth straightened when I was young, at great expense. When I went to France when I was 15, lots of people there told me they "knew I was American" by my "nice smile."
But straight teeth alone is no longer the sign that someone is a middle class American (or else someone blessed with a fine mouth or a great dental plan). Now people`s teeth need to be really white, too -- like brand new kitchen appliances, or cattle bones that have been out in the desert sun a long time.
My teeth are straight, but small and rat-like, somewhat discolored after several decades of coffee and red wine consumption. One of my old friends, who hadn`t seen me in a few years, offered to introduce me to her dentist, who "can work wonders." I just looked at her blankly -- I have no pain or cavities, and I can chew just fine. It occurred to me later she meant cosmetic wonders.
I have made many new friends since moving here in July, and I`ve noticed something funny. Out of the people with whom I feel most comfortable and familiar, from all different socioeconomic backgrounds, not a single one has really white teeth. Many have crooked teeth, and a few even have missing teeth. What`s up with that? Are we a lost tribe of weak-enameled folk who found each other psychically?
I will leave you with one more question: why is it, that when I have to go pick up Little Son at a playdate at the house of one of his trendy preschool friends, whose mother looks like a model with a waist as big as my leg and teeth that practically glow in the dark, I always seem to be a dumpy, puffy wreck, with stringy hair and a big sore on my lip? Why is that?
Just wondering.
(Edited to say, I wasn`t speaking metaphorically -- I really do have a big sore on my lip now, and I never feel uglier than when I have a big sore on my lip. It doesn`t hurt much, but I feel as if everyone is staring at it because it`s so big and scabby and gross. Sorry, TMI there.)
posted by L. at 11:42 AM
14 Comments:
It's because we haven't misplaced our true values on the way to some mythical perfection.
I read an entire article on the difficulties faced by one person in the "dental products" aisle of a large supermarket. Hilarious.
Is it too corny to talk about inner beauty?
I think white, straight and healthy are a sign of healty. Only now it is often fake white and not a really healthy person.
If you look at movies these days there are three types of teeth showing. Elegant, straight and basically white, is for the good guy in the movie. Bad freaky looking teeth is always for the bad guy or the guy who lives in the gutter. The really bad evil man who is trying to pretend he is good always has freaky white teeth.
Sad but I noticed INSTANTLY when tom Cruise got his crooked front tooth fixed some years ago.
And I always feel dumpy with some of these girls here even when I have left the house feeling like a million.
Hey, like, do you wanna hang out with me?
I have yellowish teeth (which are actually a healthy colour) and am tall but not willowy, more like oakly big, broad and stalwart seeming.
My teeth are straight though. Expensive work that was done when I was 16. And I don't have cavities.
The cult of white teeth has struck me as weird too.
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Okay - we're all pretty sure it was a system wide glitch. I was getting paranoid.
Totally unrelated, but how are you handleing the totaly different food style? It is something I have been worried about in my move home.
Andrea, I am not handling the food changes well. I gained 20 pounds since we moved here.... and I didn`t need to gain any at all!
ya my worry as well. my father LOVES his bacon and eggs in the morning. Going to be hard to be strong. augh!
I"ve noticed the white teeth, too. My sister, the Designated Family Successful One, has a smile that you can use for Search and Rescue. But I must laugh -- I'm sure she spends big bucks on that grin. I checked the active ingredients on all the expensive whitening products and selected the home remedy of putting ordinary peroxide on my toothbrush. Now I, too, have pearly whites. Though otherwise I'm still pretty frumpy. I can't stand wearing makeup -- it feels like my face is dirty and I want to wash it off.
Good heavens, another granny. I'm checking her out immediately.
I think your lovely tribute to Hub should remain untarnished by comments so I'll just wish him a Happy Birthday here.
I'm probably the only goofy person who feels that way in which case I hope he receives lots of greetings.
I for one was greatly offended when my FORMER dentist made suggestions to me several yrs ago about bleaching/whitening: "We can do something about those spots on your incisors!!"
Yes, on both front incisors I have (much fainter now as I have aged) whitER spots, while overall the rest of my teeth are yellowed from tetracycline exposure in childhood... When I was a teenager they caused me untold grief, of COURSE I hated 'em! Nevertheless I accepted them over the yrs & was consequently greatly offended by my dentist's suggestion that they needed fixin' -- it isn't as if my teeth were crooked or painful.
I always seem to get blood spatters or other, even less savory, bodily excretions on my scrubs when I have to go by school & mingle w/the well-dressed, well-coiffed, perfectly manicured moms! I think it's one of those unwritten laws...
Oh Val... you could have a lot of fun with that!
Other moms: "Eeeew, what`s that around your neck?"
Val: "Oh, just some dog intestines....."
It would be great --- at least until the buzzards start circling you.
Yeah, I've noticed too... Perhaps has something to do with the excessive advertising by BriteSmile and the like? Mine are better than they used to be (cavities fixed) 15 years ago, but mine are discolored. As long as they don't hurt and they can chew okay, I don't care. I never look at myself anyway.
GrannyGrump... I'm the same only more so. I simply can't wear make-up and certainly couldn't get close to someone who did. Blech.
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