I appreciated the Sept. 14 Style article “Have you noticed that everyone’s teeth are a little too perfect?” Tooth diversity is the final frontier in body positivity. I’ve wondered for years why the positivity movement has never extended to teeth. You can see models of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, medical conditions, etc., and every single one of them has even, glistening, white teeth. I guess it’s too much of a marker of money and privilege to give up.
As for the claim that it’s innately pleasing to see symmetry in a face, that it’s a marker of good health, etc., I will note that when I first Googled how to get rid of my snaggletooth, I was staggered to see a number of sites about how to get a snaggletooth. Apparently, this is very desirable in some cultures as a sign of youthfulness, and there are dentists ready to give you one in exchange for your cash.
At the end of the day, all of this comes down to making people unhappy with their natural selves so they feel forced to buy something to make themselves feel better. Why don’t we just short-circuit that vicious cycle and start enjoying our own natural, unique bodies right now?
Linda Falcão, North Wales, Pa.
