We have seen how people level up to the higher strata of society just by looking good. From big things like good posture and flawless skin to little things like full teeth, belonging to the most sought-after class of society is the game of appearance.
You will be surprised to know that even a straightforward gap or misaligned teeth can block your path to the top of society. But how and why, you may ask?
That’s what we’re going to find out. Join us as we find out about the factors that make our dental health play a major role in achieving a good reputation in society.
How and Why Your Dental Health Determines Your Social Status
Previously, our educational and upbringing achievements determined our position in society. If you have a degree, and if you were raised in a family that takes manners and etiquette seriously, you’ll receive a warm welcome from people of all social statuses.
But times have changed. Today, even the simplest things can lead you to elite status or vice versa, particularly with regards to your physical appearance. And one of them is the condition of your teeth.
A killer smile was sometimes essential to earn the respect of those in the higher classes. Since appearance is the most vital thing in this generation, you must look your best if you want to achieve success.
But why do people start giving our teeth away in court? Here are some reasons:
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Everyone wants a Hollywood smile
Dental care has become a trend amongst celebrities and well-known figures every now and then. From teeth whitening to dental implants, they’ve paid thousands of dollars just to be certain
Since people have a bent to mimic what they see in the media – TV, movies, social media, they’ve developed the idea that having good teeth can make you successful in the industry and in life in general. If you’re able to endure the same procedure and your teeth look healthy, you feel that you have risen to the same status as them.
Not to mention the various advertisements and other messages spread across numerous media channels to address public sensitivities with their body image, including the appearance of teeth. Based on a study by Abeer Khalid and Carlos Quiñonezthese messages have helped shape the idea that looking healthy and full teeth is probably the greatest ways to attain social acceptance and happiness.
Supporting this assertion are excerpts from an interview with Malcolm Gladwell, social scientist and author of David and Goliath, at Time. He explained that having bad or incomplete teeth and overall dental health is the new face of discrimination today. If you have bad or missing teeth, your chances of success also decrease. Some people are even turned down for entry-level jobs just because their teeth are misaligned or discolored.
Fictitious criminals with crooked or missing teeth also contribute to society’s prejudice against people with imperfect smiles. People in stories treat these antagonists as social outcasts, so if you share the same dental traits as them, do not be surprised if people treat you the same in real life.
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Working to have full teeth is a way for some people to attain happiness
Khalid and Quiñonez also note that our obsession with looking good teeth is a product of our romantic pursuit of happiness. Most of us seek dental care because we believe it will improve our self-image. The more fun your image is, the more friends and acquaintances you can have. And for some, that is what happiness means.
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Dental health is a necessity but has now become a luxury
According to FDI World Dental FederationNearly half of the world’s population currently suffers from tooth decay, which is among the leading causes of tooth loss.
Unfortunately, treating oral conditions costs quite a little bit of money. In the US, Americans spend an estimated $110 billion a year on oral health care. And in Europe, oral healthcare spending has reached €79 billion, which, according to FDI, is costlier than curing cancer or other respiratory diseases.
Since not everybody can afford dental care, let alone dental care, taking care of your oral health has gone from a necessity to a luxury, seemingly unattainable and unimportant for poorer segments of society. So if you appear to have good teeth, whether natural or artificial, it means you belong to a privileged and able part of society.
Dental Implants to the Rescue
If you considering dental implants, then you may be one of those people who wants to restore lost teeth as naturally as possible. It’s not hard to see why dental implants have gained so much popularity over the years.
Most people with dental implants say they feel more comfy and safer than dentures, which are also a popular replacement option. It also requires less maintenance because it’s permanently connected to your gums.
However, in exchange for these attractive benefits, you must pay an enormous price. That’s why not everyone seems to be advised to consider having dental implants.
And even if you can afford it financially, there are also a number of health factors to consider. There is dedication to see the entire procedure through to the end too. Depending on your situation, it can take up to a year to complete treatment, which not everybody can do.
Final Thoughts
Society has evolved through time, and with it, things and situations that are deemed acceptable in his eyes. We have progressed from basing our status on our educational attainment and way of life, to the state of our physical appearance. Even the simplest form of physical beauty can become a major problem for our current social image.
It may sound annoying, but on the bright side, this mindset also encourages us to take excellent care of our teeth. Even if it is just for the sake of appearance, at least people are now aware of the benefits of good dental health – social acceptance and additional health protection.
