The Expensive, Exhausting Pursuit of a ‘‘Perfect Smile’’

“A quick glance at the cast of any U.S.-based show on the air right now shows that a mouthful of ultra-white, unnervingly straight teeth is about as American as apple pie and woefully inadequate paid parental leave. The history of how status-boasting smiles became a commodity is a complex one, to say the least.” -Sam Escobar, Site Director

SE: “Over her nearly seven years at Allure, associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen, the editor behind our Show Your Teeth series, has reported multiple stories regarding income inequality and how it relates to beauty. (I’ve personally had many eye-opening conversations with her on topics like these—one of the many advantages of working on a team full of beauty editors who bring their unique perspectives to the table!) Whether or not you know what it’s like to grow up envying your classmates for their shiny braces, I highly recommend reading her essay.”

SE: “It’s easy to assume that the only reasons someone’s teeth might be yellow are their choices: smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee and alcohol, forgetting to brush, eating and drinking sugary things. But I learned something incredibly helpful from this piece by Hannah Baxter: The shade of your teeth is not exclusively dictated by lifestyle. In fact, some people have naturally white teeth while others of us (hello, comrades) do not.”

SE: “Like many Millennials, I’ve thought periodically about America’s Next Top Model and its role in the ‘00s reality TV zeitgeist. When this clip resurfaced, I immediately remembered the episode; I, too, have gaps in my teeth, so it made a major impression on me as a child. But, unlike many celebrities called out for cringeworthy television moments years down the line, Tyra acknowledged the clip and apologized. Take note, fellow early-Aughts stars.”

SE: “Unlike the aforementioned ANTM moment, some things from the early-Aughts have been very well-received by modern audiences.”

SE: “I’ll never forget the moment I discovered what a “flipper” is, thanks to an episode of good ol’ Toddlers and Tiaras.”

SE: “This essay by former wellness editor Rosemary Donahue, who experienced triggering side effects after starting Invisalign treatments, is a solid reminder of why it’s necessary for medical professionals to receive training and education on eating disorders, even if they do not work in eating-disorder recovery.”

SE: “‘Let me be enamel-clear: There is no health imperative to having white teeth,’ writes Brennan Kilbane. The fact of the matter is that we do not need a bleach-bright smile—we just want one. Really, really badly. How did we get this obsessed with tooth-whitening trays and strips?”

SE: “My mother is a librarian, so I love libraries—particularly the Library of Congress, which has myriad historical documents and information on every topic under the sun, as well as photography and art, like this 1938 poster promoting dental hygiene that could easily be passed off as a modern ad for a Silicon Valley tooth-care startup.”

SE: “You know that scene in Rules of Attraction where Victor recounts his fever-dream experience studying abroad? This is kind of like that…but with a dentist.”