A common joke in the US is that British people have bad teeth. In one Simpsons episode, for example, a dentist shows Lisa “The Big Book of British Smiles”, a book containing horrific pictures of Brits with large crooked teeth, including Prince Charles, Sherlock Holmes and Buckingham Palace guards. And in the Austin Powers films, Americans make fun of the titular character’s crooked, yellow teeth.
But do Brits really have such bad teeth? And where did the stereotype come from? In this post, we’ll be answering these questions and more.
Where did the idea of bad British teeth come from?
We think the stereotype comes from the fact that the British genuinely did use to have bad teeth. Standards of teeth used to be much worse in the past. In 1978 for example, about a third of people in the UK had no natural teeth. The figure nowadays is just 6% according to the British Dental Association, which shows how far dental standards have improved since then. Tooth decay was also more common in the past. For example, in 1973, around nine in ten children aged 12 had tooth decay, whereas that figure now is only around three in ten children. We still have room to improve but the health of our teeth has certainly improved over the last few decades.
So does that mean we no longer deserve the stereotype of bad teeth? Possibly. But it’s also true that Americans place a greater importance on the appearance of their teeth. For example, only 3% of people in the UK have had their teeth whitened, whereas this figure in the US is 14%. The fact that Americans seek elective dental treatments more often than Brits could explain why we still suffer from a stereotype of bad teeth.
So do Americans have better teeth than Brits?
Actually, it seems the teeth of Brits are actually healthier be than Americans’ teeth. According to the latest figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the average 12-year-old child in the UK has 0.7 missing or filled teeth. In comparison, the average 12-year-old American has 1.3 missing or filled teeth. The UK also fares better than other major countries, such as Australia where the average 12-year-old has 1.1 missing or decayed teeth.
Future trends
The stereotype of the bad British smile could be set to change soon because more and more British people are seeking elective dental procedures. The number of adults correcting their misaligned teeth with braces is rising, for example. Another thing that is increasing is our spending on private dentistry. According to market research by Mintel, Brits now spend around £2 billion on private dental care every year. This is an increase of around 30% since 2010.
Mintel also found that about a third of adults in the UK are unhappy about their teeth. This could be because our society is becoming more appearance orientated, partly due to image-sharing websites like Instagram and Facebook. In the end, whether you choose elective treatments is up to you. The main thing that matters is that they’re healthy.
FAQs
When it comes to the best overall dental health, Denmark takes the #1 spot. With a DMFT (decayed, missing, or filled teeth) index score of 0.4, Danish citizens have pretty perfect teeth. Germany, Finland, Sweden, and the UK all have scores below 1.0, making them the five countries with the healthiest teeth.
What countries have bad teeth? ›
Featuring nations from across four continents, this list will surprise even the savviest dental professional.
- Poland. This Eastern European country has one of the highest tooth decay rates in the world. ...
- Bolivia. ...
- Australia. ...
- India. ...
- Philippines.
Definition of 'gnashers'
How do Americans smile vs British smile? ›
Brits use the upper cheek muscles to smile (the natural smile, which pooches up your cheeks and crinkles your eyes), while Americans tend to use the lower cheek muscles, which only involve the mouth in the smile, and not the rest of the face.
Are British teeth better than American? ›
From casual jokes to media portrayals, the myth that the British have worse teeth than Americans has played out over and over. But findings detailed by the British Dental Association suggest that this myth doesn't hold up against reality.
Which ethnicity has the biggest teeth? ›
Analyses based on double determinations showed that measurements in all study samples were reliable to an accuracy of 0.1mm. The Southern Chinese sample was found to have the largest teeth overall, whereas the Romano-British sample generally displayed the smallest mesiodistal crown dimensions (p<0.001).
Which country has the best oral hygiene? ›
1. Denmark. Denmark's comprehensive dental care system emphasizes strong preventive measures, leading to a low rate of oral disease over a lifetime.
Do most Americans have bad teeth? ›
Dental health statistics reveal the prevalence of dental diseases: Tooth Decay and Gum Disease: Over 80% of people have at least one cavity by age 34, and about 40-50% of American adults over age 30 have periodontal (gum) disease.
What era had the worst teeth? ›
New research shows that the Pleistocene inhabitants of Grotte des Pigeons can lay claim to some of the worst teeth to be documented in human history. They are also the earliest known group with serious tooth decay, suffering high rates of cavities and abscesses millennia before humans invented farming.
What is the English word for bad teeth? ›
| Tooth decay |
|---|
| Other names | Dental cavities, dental caries, cavities, caries |
| Destruction of a tooth by dental caries and disease |
| Pronunciation | Caries /ˈkɛəriːz/ |
| Specialty | Dentistry |
9 more rowsSynonyms of 'smile' in British English
- grin. He grinned, delighted at the memory.
- beam. She beamed at her friend with undisguised admiration.
- smirk. They nudged each other and smirked.
- twinkle.
Where did the idea of bad British teeth come from? We think the stereotype comes from the fact that the British genuinely did use to have bad teeth. Standards of teeth used to be much worse in the past. In 1978 for example, about a third of people in the UK had no natural teeth.
What cultures smile the least? ›
People in Asian countries tend to smile less because cultures there tend to contain outward emotional displays. In Japan, for example, people are much more likely to look into the eyes for emotional cues, compared to Americans, who look at the mouth, one study showed.
Which type of smile is rarest? ›
The rarest smile type is the complex smile, with only an estimated 2% of the population possessing this smile. This smile is rare because it requires three muscle groups to work simultaneously when smiling.
Who has prettiest smile? ›
1. Julia Roberts. There is no doubt about the fact that this gorgeous woman, 57, is the Queen of Hollywood Smiles. Her starring in the movie Mona Lisa Smile (2003) seems to explain the beauty of her smile.
Who has most beautiful teeth in the world? ›
* Julia Roberts - Her mega-watt smile is one of her trademarks. Her grin in movies like "Pretty Woman" lights up the screen.
Which US state has the best teeth? ›
The Midwest reigns supreme when it comes to dental care. The top five states with the best teeth are Michigan (1st), Ohio (2nd), Indiana (3rd), Missouri (4th) and Wisconsin (5th). States dealing with the most dental issues are smaller, more remote states.
Which country brushes their teeth the most? ›
63% of Britons brush teeth twice a day and have the highest figure globally for brushing with fluoride toothpaste, 47%.
What are the most attractive teeth? ›
Slightly rounded teeth are one of the most attractive teeth shapes and impart a more youthful look to the face, enhancing its freshness. They are easy to clean and maintain, which is perfect for oral hygiene practice.
