Dawe: Week 7

 Perfect Teeth

    Something that I disagree with completely is how our society puts such a stigma around not having perfectly straight, white teeth. Barely anyone in the world is actually born with a "perfect smile." Actually, only around 20% of the population even has naturally straight teeth let alone perfectly white ones. So why should something so unnatural be so desirable? 

    In many other countries, other than America, teeth are not of such importance. Yes, having good dental hygiene is important but a crooked tooth here and there doesn't stand out as much. Almost all celebrities and social media influencers, in America, have perfectly straight teeth and if they don't, they are usually heavily criticized. However, in many different countries, this is not the case. Having straight teeth is not a beauty standard and people are not looked down upon for having a naturally slightly crooked smile. 

    Many believe that if your teeth aren't perfect, you need to get braces or Invisalign to get them fixed. Some may not even need braces to have healthy teeth but just to have a slightly straighter smile. Many dentists and orthodontists start recommending braces at the age of 11 or 12. Yes, this is when your teeth are shifting and your grown-up teeth are growing in (I don't know I'm not an expert). However, this is also a child's awkward stage where they are very uncomfortable with themselves and just trying to fit in. Many feel pressured into getting braces because they feel like that's the only way to fit in and be beautiful. So they go through the pain and their parents spend thousands of dollars to sometimes just shift 2 teeth slightly. 

    I personally have never had braces but my brother and sister have. I used to have perfectly straight teeth, but now there is a little bit of crowding and crookedness and it is starting to be a slight insecurity of mine. I have a healthy smile and in reality, that's all that should really matter, but due to society's beauty standards, it sadly isn't.