In the UK, and in much of the western world, a confident smile is a must for meeting new people, attending a job interview or even popping into your local shop. That's why it's interesting to discover that in some countries your winning smile may not be taken as a sign of confidence.
Much like the perceptions of what a smile means shift with cultures, so does what is considered desirable. Some things, like the clothes we wear, the television we consume or the music we listen to, we expect to be affected by the ever-changing march of trends.
But did you know that our dental work is also subject to trends, both wide-reaching and micro? Join us as we find out what your smile says about you both in the UK and abroad and we look at the rise and fall of some popular dental trends from the last decade, such as the Hollywood Smile, yaeba teeth and the London gap.
What does your smile mean?
Whether you want to appear warm, welcoming or simply be polite to a stranger, the British public are fond of a smile. Although you never know exactly what someone is thinking, here in the UK, a smile is often used liberally. Our neighbours across the pond in the USA, treat smiling much in the same way. But did you know the reason we're so fond of a friendly grin may be due to the many diverse cultures celebrated here in the UK?
One study, from Princeton university, suggests that countries where the present-day population descends from many source countries, or more simply has a larger immigrant population – like the UK & the USA – are more likely to be more emotionally expressive. This suggests that our penchant for a smile may have originally been an extension of our cultural diversity and a way for us to connect with our neighbours, friends and family.
How are smiles perceived worldwide?
Here in the UK, people who smile are usually considered more favourably than those who don't. One study suggests that receiving a smile can change how we perceive a person, we may consider them happier, more attractive, competent and friendly. However commonplace the culture of smiling is in the UK & USA, it's not as universal as you think, with many countries across the world having a completely different styles and reactions to those who grin and bear it.
We know there are countries famous for their stoic expressions, and many believe that smiling is considered a sign of typical negative traits - with countries like Russia, Norway, Poland, South Korea and Japan falling into this category.
There are even some cultural quirks that may land Brits abroad in some hot water, such as the practice of naki-warai in Japan, the act of smiling when you're angry, upset, sad or embarrassed. Or the similar method of smiling to express fear, tension or regret in Thailand. We've already mentioned Russia, but if you visit it would be wise to bear in mind that smiling is typically reserved for acquaintances – a contrast to the USA where smiling is actively encouraged to evoke friendliness.
Smiles around the world
It's not just the perception of smiling that shifts with your culture, background and upbringing - but also your opinion of what types of smiles are attractive.
The Hollywood smile: If you've read a magazine, visited the cinema or consumed any of the ever-growing content available on social media platforms in the last few decades, you'll have been exposed to countless examples of the Hollywood smile.
Best defined as a set of perfectly straight, gleaming white teeth, the Hollywood smile is usually achieved through having your own teeth filed down and a set of porcelain veneers fitted over the top. Although originally not easily accessible to the average patient, veneers, both porcelain and composite, have been become more popular in the UK over the last few years.
However, despite the desirable pull of a perfectly white, well-aligned smile, it seems that the public are moving away from the Hollywood smile, opting for less invasive treatment options like composite bonding, clear aligners and whitening treatments to achieve a similar look with more natural results.
Yaeba teeth: Orthodontic treatment is very popular in the UK, with many people undergoing treatment during their teen years to align their smile. Options like clear aligners and fixed braces are readily available, with many people opting to straighten their teeth ahead of special occasions, such as weddings. But did you know that snaggle teeth – something that is often addressed with orthodontic treatment in the UK – are considered desirable abroad?
Considered cute and youthful, yaeba, meaning “double tooth", is a Japanese beauty trend in which teeth are made to look more fanglike. The look was incredibly popular in Japan for a significant period of time, with many celebrities sporting the signature snaggle toothed smile.
The yaeba look can be achieved naturally and is typically caused by delayed baby teeth or overcrowding of the mouth. Those who had natural snaggle teeth would opt to keep their natural look, while those who weren't so lucky would invest in cosmetic dental treatment to achieve the look they wanted.
Although falling out of popularity, with many Japanese celebrities undergoing corrective treatment to reduce the appearance of their “fangs”, many still love the look!
London gap: Although popularised in the UK & USA by celebrities like Madonna, Georgia May Jagger, Vanessa Paradis and Aimee Lou Wood, from season 3 of The White Lotus, having a gap between your front teeth has long been a global trend.
Also called diastema, having a gap tooth is another feature that is often corrected with orthodontic treatment. However, in many cultures worldwide, you may find individuals choosing to rock their gap – especially in countries like France and Nigeria.
In French, having a gap between your teeth is called dents du bonheur, which literally means “lucky teeth.” Similarly, in Nigerian culture, it's considered a sign of beauty and luck. In fact, in many African cultures, it can be a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Gapped teeth even have their place in mythology, appearing in the jengu, a beautiful water sprit from the traditional beliefs of the Sawabantu groups of Cameroon.
You can be born with a gap between your teeth, but it can also be caused by your teeth shifting as your age, gum disease or even pressing your tongue to the back of your teeth.
Teeth sharpening: Pointy incisors might incite flashbacks of last year’s Halloween party in the minds of most Brits, but did you know that the practice of sharpening your teeth is considered a cultural tradition in many parts of the world?
The practice can be found in Bali, as part of a coming-of-age ritual, to indicate a person is ready to consider marriage. In the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia, young women can choose to sharpen their teeth as a rite of passage and to enhance their beauty. Thinning and shortening incisors is also common in Java, Sumatra and Borneo. In African cultures, mainly in Cameroon, Congo, Guinea, Zaire and Uganda, teeth are sometimes sharpened to resemble those of a crocodile in a practice called akuha and in Tanzania members of the Makonde tribe chip off part of the upper and lower incisors to make teeth appear less sharp and more ped shaped.
Although the practice is unlikely to trend in the UK any time soon, there have been cases of people in the UK and USA choosing to undergo dental treatment to achieve this look – and although it may seem unusual to most Brits, it's undoubtedly true that teeth sharpening remains an incredibly important cultural tradition to many people worldwide.
From the Hollywood smile to yaeba teeth and even teeth sharpening, it’s clear that dental trends and the meaning of a smile vary widely across the world. What’s celebrated in one culture might be corrected in another, showing just how diverse our perceptions of beauty and self-expression can be.
Whether you prefer a polished, natural look or embrace your unique quirks, your smile is as individual as you are – shaped by personal choice, cultural influences and even the trends of the time. It’s fascinating to see how something as universal as a smile can tell such different stories across the globe.
Seen a trend you'd like to try or simply ready to invest in your own smile? Browse our comprehensive treatment offering or find more information about mydentist at www.mydentist.co.uk today. Or if you're new to mydentist and looking for a practice, find your local mydentist practice today.