There are plenty of cultural difference from the United States and our counterparts across the pond. One major difference that gets a lot of attention is our smile versus the British. In fact, the Brits have been the butt of many jokes. Just think of the fun-loving Brit, Austin Powers or the stereotypical British villain in any action movie. One thing they all have in common? Their crooked, yellow teeth!
So, is there any truth to this long-standing stereotype? Recent studies reveal the interesting truth behind American teeth versus British teeth. To explain more on this subject, dental implant provider, Dr. Ray Snider shares the truth behind the stereotype for his patients here in Fort Worth, TX.
American Versus British Teeth
The study, appropriately named “Austin Powers Bites Back,” found that Americans actually have worse teeth than the Brits. The study was published in the British Medical Journal and dispels the popular belief about poor oral health among the British. Researchers from the University College London, the National University of Colombia, and the Harvard School of Public Health looked at data from thousands of subjects from each country. Data was collected from men and women age 25 and older . National dental teams looked at thousands of subjects and considered different factors including pain, avoidance of smiling, and difficulty eating.
Contrary to the stereotype, Americans ended up ranking worse than the Brits. The study found that the average number of missing teeth was at 7.31 in the United States while it was 6.97 in the UK. The study also found that the socioeconomic inequalities in oral health were much higher in the US compared to the UK. This is largely due to the difference in health care policies among the two countries.
The Birth of the Bad British Teeth Stereotype
Authors of the published report noticed that the running joke about bad British teeth dates back more than 100 years. Some researchers believe that the birth of this joke really took off after World War II when US forces noticed poor oral health. Treatment in the UK focused on keeping teeth healthy rather than the aesthetics of an individual’s smile. As a result, the Brits would enjoy a healthy smile but it would not rank well against the American ideals of a beautiful, white smile.
In fact, most of the oral health differences between the US and the Brits come down to different standards of what makes a beautiful smile. Americans are far more likely to pursue cosmetic dentistry procedures than their counterparts. While braces are common in the US, this treatment is seen more as a luxury than a necessity. Differences between the two countries were also highlighted by the actors and musicians at this time. Old-school Hollywood stars all donned straight, white teeth while many beloved British stars like The Beatles sported a less picture-perfect smile.
Contact our Office in Fort Worth
As the study proved, the health of a smile between Americans and British are quite similar and the real differences lie in the aesthetics of a smile. Despite these differences, tooth loss is regarded as a serious oral health problem in both countries. If you’re currently dealing with missing teeth, we urge you to look into restorative treatment as soon as possible. We’ve been able to restore the smiles of countless patients here in Fort Worth with dental implants. To gain a beautiful, complete smile with dental implants, contact our office today! You can be one step closer to a restored smile after scheduling your no-obligation consultation with Dr. Snider.