Cultures That Value Crooked Teeth

While Americans are usually focused on correcting unaligned teeth as early in life as possible, other countries have developed different values about what they find attractive in a smile. In some ways, placing value and even intentionally seeking an imperfect smile seems anathema to citizens of the US, where we spend $110 billion a year at dental offices, a significant amount of which is spent on orthodontia to repair misaligned teeth. Let’s consider some cultures that value crooked teeth, and why appearance might not be the most important factor.

In Japan, individuals, particularly women, are paying to actually have their teeth modified by a cosmetic dentist to make them appear crooked. These imperfect teeth are considered endearing by members of opposite sex, and the imperfection is viewed as more youthful. The trend is referred to as yaeba, which means “doubletooth,” and the cosmetic procedure specifically targets an individual’s canine teeth, gluing more fang-shaped artificial veneers to the teeth.

The British believe that a more natural smile, including misaligned teeth, should be celebrated, in comparison to American smiles that they view as unnaturally uniform and bright. According to Professor Jimmy Steele of the Newcastle University School of Dental Science, British individuals simply prefer “nice natural smiles – natural in color”. He calls the most extreme tooth bleaching “terrifying” and says it “looks like gloss paint.”

Some individuals in America find crooked teeth pleasing in members of the opposite sex, and there is a history of celebrities with famous but imperfect smiles. Actress and bestselling singer Miley Cyrus, in an interview with Elle, proclaimed that she loved her crooked teeth. Strangely enough, though, four years later she had them corrected, perhaps concerned about actual effects from the misalignment (http://www.starfeine.com/did-miley-cyrus-finally-get-her-snaggletooth-fixed/).

Ms. Cyrus’ case brings up an important point: it’s not strictly about appearance. The formal term for misaligned teeth, including “snaggleteeth,” crooked teeth, overbites and underbites is malocclusion. Malocclusion may not cause any problems, but it can lead to problems with speaking, slurring speech, biting, chewing, and pain in the jaw. Anyone who suffers from jaw pain should be checked by his or her dentist for malocclusion. Even a millimeter of misalignment can cause pain that can be easily fixed by a trained dentist. Malocclusion can also lead to problems caused by not being able to clean crooked or misaligned teeth properly. This can then lead to problems with cavities or decay. If you have crooked teeth, and suddenly start experiencing gum sensitivity or jaw pain, make an appointment with your dentist. Not every malocclusion requires orthodontia.

There are cultures that find charmingly flawed smiles endearing, and some individuals here in America have even become famous with distinctive teeth. As long as your teeth are healthy and will remain healthy for the future, your smile is perfect the way it is.