If you’re visiting a foreign country, there’s supposedly a new “tell” that you’re American: Your PERFECT SMILE.
There’s an article going viral, saying that foreigners notice Americans’ great SMILES . . . and it’s CREEPING THEM OUT. (Hmm. Why in the world would anyone abroad feel uncomfortable around a smiling American???)
They will even say things like, “your teeth are so white,” or “they are really straight.” (And not just in Britain.) (???)
Experts say there are a few reasons this may be happening:
1. The cosmetic dentistry industry in the U.S. in BOOMING . . . and could surpass $20 BILLION this year.
There’s a term in Europe called “turkey teeth,” which mocks people who have cheap, overdone veneers that don’t seem natural. Now, it’s not just cheap stuff and veneers, it’s “any smile that looks too perfect.”
2. Some foreigners say turkey teeth smiles give them “ick” vibes. It feels artificial, forced, insincere, and even dishonest.
3. In Australia, a dentist says patients worry about ending up with a smile that “looks American.” Instead, they prefer work that “looks natural,” not something that looks like they’ve “had their teeth done.”
4. Another person from South America said American smiles come across as SUS.
5. Broad, toothy smiles can be ominous in some cultures, where you see both rows of teeth. One person notes that in the animal world, showing teeth is rarely associated with happiness. It usually signals aggression or a threat.
6. Someone in the Czech Republic said, “If someone approached with a big, open American smile, the reaction would be: Do I know this person? Are they trying to flirt?” Because that warmth is traditionally reserved for people you already know.
(Buzzfeed)
