Veneers, Veneers, Veeners…Unpacking our Oral Dissatisfaction 😁 Khadija Mbowe

[@KhadijaMbowe]

"Go to ground.news/Khadija to think critically about the news and improve your media literacy. Get 40% off their Vantage plan which is what I use, or try it for less than $1/month today✨

[@johnplayer420]

Teeth aren't just for eating, they're decorations for classism!

[@jacobjacob2502]

Yeah it turns out our whole bodies are😢

[@Rells2coolpeoplehavebadtastes.]

Yeah because humans are dumb. My god animal life -yes animal life, because humans are animals- is dumb as bricks sometimes.

[@jacobjacob2502]

Shout out to us who still have regular teeth deemed as ugly by societal standards but still love what we have🎉😊

[@dumbbirdwayne]

Ayoooo, I have one single tooth that’s badly out of line that could be fixed but honestly I’m fine with the rest of them being naturally shaped, I genuinely can’t stand the ultra perfect teeth people keep getting, a relative of mine (who went from working class to rich white asshole real quick) has his teeth in that ultra white sheen with perfect straightness, and it looks so synthetic, teeth aren’t supposed to be BRIGHT white, your bones are the same!

[@bobacore]

i love my spongebob teeth haha i feel like it makes me cute

[@dworf543]

I have canines that jut out of my lips and give me a cute vampire smile. My front molars are recessive and my bottom front fold like chairs. But I still never feel discouraged by my smile. I love it just the way it is.

[@drewberriesandcream]

i don’t (yet) love what i have, but i’m working on it.

[@serenity6831]

Hear hear!

[@afenix5902]

I used to hate my smile but honestly I would rather have a imperfect smile than have bleach white chicklets in my mouth 😭

[@diandriasmith889]

That reminds me of the movie Dennis the Menace. Matter of fact, I think Dennis literally replaced Mr. Wilson's front teeth with Chiclets when he broke his dentures.

[@princessslaya937]

Yesss. The eclipse gum lmao 🤣

[@JulianSteve]

Yeah, I’m still working on my teeth insecurities. So, no worries! At least you’re knowing your worth now😌

[@deno9607]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 same

[@Shyknit]

Yeah I was starting to get self conscious about my teeth not being white white but then with all the veneer stuff that's gone on it just makes me thankful to have teeth in general. And I realized they're a natural off white color lol

[@abracadaverous]

As someone who's disabled and at the mercy of US public healthcare, dental care is not covered. My country has decided that having healthy teeth is a luxury that I, and others like me, don't deserve. I need thousands of dollars of dental work, and there's no way I'll ever be able to afford any of it. I'm already missing eight teeth and I'm going to lose several more before long. Losing this many teeth can shave decades off your life. So it's a bit infuriating for someone like me to watch people with money deliberately doing things that will damage their teeth, knowing they can just buy some more.

[@mirithilrose54]

This makes me so angry. I'm in a similar position but I'm lucky enough to live in a country where this kind of dental work is covered when you really need it. I wish it was possible for you too. 💖

[@halliebirds]

This breaks my heart. I live in the US and was a social worker for awhile working with adults with disabilities. One guy had lost all his front teeth but because his front teeth weren’t “imperative for everyday functioning,” they’d never be covered. Our “healthcare” system is disgusting.

[@bemiatto67]

Get out while you still can. It's only going to get worse there.

[@oz4648]

@@bemiatto67 it's very difficult to emigrate with a disability. not just because of cost but because countries often don't let us in because they view us as a burden to their economy.

[@lepidoptery]

these ppl have a little bit of money but if they had enough money to get it done properly they wouldn't be going to a "veneer tech" to get it done on the cheap. they won't all be able to fix things easily later on.

[@MintakaSaiph]

Imagine what people will say in 700 years. "In the 21st century, at the peak of social media, people went to back alley amateurs to get ill fitted veneers made out of unknown substances; often times made out of dangerous materials that should be nowhere near anyone's mouth."

[@idiot_rat]

Tale as old as time

[@graceelle9605]

I read this in a British narrating accent.

[@killuazoldyckhunter]

when you phrased it like that it reminded me of how back in the day people thought mercury was good as skincare. damn we humans never really learn

[@Ozzymandius1]

“… Also, interestingly enough, abortions- which were legalized at one point- returned to back alleys in some states.”

[@staysafe_eatcake6587]

History repeats itself lol people used to put all kinds of poisons and chemicals over their faces in pursuit of beauty. Think face powder having arsenic

[@GabriellaGodessa]

As a dentist that graduated in UK 2 weeks ago🎉 I can confirm from a professional perspective these veneers be making yall look crazy. Legit copy and paste veneers in shade A1 glow in the dark in a block square shape with no customisation whatsoever. Remember these tend to last 15 to 20 years at maximum and become more expensive with each replacement Please love yourselves teeth with gaps (diastemas) are beautiful. Please go to ethical dentists that tell you no when needed 😭😭

[@civail5699]

Congrats on graduating! 🎉

[@risxra]

Congrats!!

[@charliepaige196]

I have a gap in my top teeth that I used to be so insecure about as a child. I remember my mom and I used to watch America’s Next Top Model and there was a season where Tyra told one of the models that she would never make it with a gap… so they kinda forced her to fix it surgically. This straight up scarred me because I thought that I would never be viewed as “pretty”. Flash forward to now, at 27, the amount of compliments I get on my teeth are UNREAL. People say my gap is so cute and I’m really grateful that I never let the insecurity push me towards surgery or braces, because even outside of people’s opinions, I love my teeth🥰

[@icechipz]

Gap teeth are considered a mark of beauty in my country :)

[@melyelizabeth7504]

All my cousins and I have a gap between our two front teeth. One by one they all got it fixed except for me and I used to be SO insecure about it. Tyra on ANTM only added to that insecurity. Now at 29, most people are so indifferent to it that I forget about it sometimes and have grown to accept it as me. It’s a unique little feature that I love and enjoy when I see anyone else with one too! I am also grateful that I never fixed it. Plus I saved so much money not doing so 💁🏻‍♀️

[@Shyknit]

I remember that episode it's crazy looking back on that show and others how they hated on things that today people would love to have. Freckles, thick eyebrows, gap teeth, a big booty etc lol

[@AlexJosephDesigns]

I had a gap when I was a kid, but got braces so now it’s closed. Any time I look back on old photos, I wish I had kept it because it was so cute

[@Ravenboppityzoppity]

I'm thankful I didn't watch ANTM as a little girl, my peers had regular access to cable TV but my household was strict and abusive. Needless to say I didn't need any help fostering body image issues. I'm so glad you kept your gap 🥰 i think they're adorable

[@ninjarabbitxo]

"it's almost like so many of us are trying to seek control and autonomy over our own lives by leaning into the very things that are giving us less control and autonomy" I had to run that back multiple times because that's a WORD.

[@msdentist2011]

As a DDS, I don't think people realize that these are potentially irreversible procedures, with potential complications that a tech is likely not able to address. Be safe out there yall!

[@Gabster1990]

I worked at a dentist office for a while. Most people that brush and floss are fine. Braces are a good option to straighten teeth. Veneers are an option but people don't realize how much upkeep it requires!

[@jerlinej3516]

Veneers are the new BBL. We’ve always sought body modifications.. then we backtrack bc we realize we’re doing too much.

[@Shyknit]

It's crazy these body mods being so invasive and being in areas of the body that will have such an affect on your life tho. You sit and lay down so much in your life and eating talking etc with your teeth

[@TheLadyBlerd]

Always have hated the idea of "first impressions" because deep down before learned the concept of confirmation bias, folks will GO OUT OF THEIR WAY N DAY to confirm their initial beliefs about who you are as whole person based on looking at you and extremely minimal (if at all) interaction with you. Then there's the hypocrisy of folks feeling justified in doing so towards others while wanting people to be understanding should they themselves be judged just as harshly and unfairly. People judging your trustworthiness based off how comforting they find your smile n style is annoying in most social contexts, but now living in country where it's okay incarcerate folks for sleeping on the street, in public areas, including your car, while landlords/employers are on Facebook gassing each other up about denying access to people who look too "woke" or "unkempt" - - people are being overwhelmingly threatened to fall in line or look forward to learning first hand the 13th amendment kept slavery legal for the incarcerated. Also include it was common practice to value enslaved people by the appearance = health of teeth. Like horses. Having a good smile at this point might save your life, and people enjoy being judgmental too much to change, and that's dystopian AF.

[@arianam6430]

I hear you, but where exactly are these corporate landlords creating a homeless class of ppl based on their wokeness/lack of veneers? I understand the current housing crisis and how unaffordable housing has become in many places, but there's a huge difference in denying housing because someone (through proof of employment/paybstubs, etc) can't afford it versus denying housing because someone/a company BELIEVES you can't afford it, based off looks or what have you. And I'm pretty sure the latter is illegal anyway

[@TheLadyBlerd]

@@arianam6430 it's only illegal if you can prove overt discrimination, while covert discrimination is much harder to prove which makes it effective. Also I made the comment simply to share it, and have no desire to "discuss" my comment with people who disagree or "don't understand" under bad faith. Example: Simply because somethingis illegal doesn't mean it doesn't happen. That's like trying to argue sex trafficking doesn't occur because you don't really see it and it's illegal, anyway. If you are unaware of the varying ways covert housing discrimination is still practiced within the the written law, and that it can (and does) happen on sight in many cases, I genuinely have little faith anything further I could share with you on the topic in a KZbin comment section will convince you to accept awareness of its existence. I work in banking and GUARANTEE you the business is trained in covert discrimination practices, and they legitimately use cases in training of people doing exactly what you're describing but only got caught because eventually someone had the money and resources to sue and hold lenders accountable. I'm going to stop here because with how you framed your comment gives the impression even this would be argued - - overall I've no interest in bad faith back n forths with strangers. You've made your perspective known, and I've no desire to influence it differently because it is highly unlikely to result in a productive use of my time. Maybe someone else will continue the conversation, yet even then feel free to retort however you please as the very least it helps Khadija's engagement ✌🏿

[@jenbunnyaqua]

@@arianam6430I mean- at the end of the day OP’s point is: any excuse to discriminate will be taken and justified by those trying to uphold the Status Quo. Because these people exert control through the legal and court systems they will never be rash enough to go online and post: ‘let’s keep physical stereotypes going; I like saying no to woke workers’. But they WILL try to justify the validity of these arguments by circulating them (ie reposts) and sussing out public opinion.

[@syd1982]

Rly good points!!

[@LenaLinzy]

I had 8k worth of orthodontist work and my teeth are still considered “ugly”. It makes me so angry bc it took years to fix my overbite, and I had to have teeth pulled and braces for years as a kid. In the end, it made my mouth hurt less, I could eat more, and my teeth were no longer impacted. Idc what social media has to say, I had a LONG dental journey and I’m happy that my teeth are healthy, strong, and useable. Of course I wish they could be less stained (some is permanent from my braces lol) but at the end of the day, it’s my smile and my parents worked hard for it, and I don’t want to change that.

[@chelseashift]

ALL OF THIS!!! my experience mirrors yours ❤im glad my mouth hurts less and is less inflamed

[@morgeduid]

me but probably closer to... 70k (my teeth were real fucked up)?? it's craaaaazy

[@mmmmmmmmaria]

same :/ my teeth are as straight as they’re going to get and actually naturally shaped very nicely but they’re just never not gonna be yellow bc that’s my natural color + i drink a lot of tea and coffee. and i can’t get them whitened bc they’re already sensitive as hell, but other than that my enamel is strong and i hardly ever get cavities (i think i got all of them in the time shortly after my adult teeth emerged bc they’re more fragile during that initial time and never got any new ones since). but people, especially americans, will assume i’m dirty, unhealthy and unhygienic just bc my healthy teeth are yellow. shit sucks.

[@Karasus_drug_dealer]

For those of you with stained teeth and you don’t want to use bleach or whatever concoction they’re selling these days, just use color correcting toothpaste, it’s purple to cancel out the yellow and tastes and feels exactly like normal toothpaste, no damage done

[@Karasus_drug_dealer]

When you were talking about how urine used to be used to remove stains and then you said it’ll be linked in the description I thought you meant like buying urine😂😂😂 why is my hearing so bad omg

[@Cmdr_Kellie]

Oooo, girl. If you made this video a year ago, I would've had the hardest time watching it. hell, I might've even avoided it lol. But damn do I appreciate it. I'd like to share my personal teef journey: My parents couldn't afford to keep up with my dental health and I sucked my thumb until I was 13. So my mouth was all kinds of jacked up. People judged me a lot for it from a young age, and it just warped my self-esteem/image. So... I'd try my best to hide my smile. As I got older, I just didn't want to deal with the pain, stress, shame and expenses. To get my smile where I wanted, it'd cost thousands. In 2017, I got instasmile veneers. Pop in plastic lol. They were sooooo white, but I loved that my smile finally looked normal. I was at relative peace when I looked in the mirror. I could smile! In reality, I was just trading one form of dental insecurity for another. People were often understandably off-put by how white and fake they'd look. Plus, wearing them on a regular basis was hell on my mouth and made things worse dental health-wise. To have white teeth that smelt like rot was a mindfuck to behold anyone and no amount of gum or brushing would fix it. My mouth was just a mess. It wasn't until January after going through a horrendous break-up that I was so depressed and fed up that I went to a dentist. I had two extractions and 17 or so fillings in about, three weeks lol. It was hell, but I am so glad I did it. As a result of the fillings, the dentist ended up filling in gaps/reshaping teeth, so my smile looks better than I ever imagined it could look. Next step is getting crowns on the upper front four to appear more uniform...but I'm not sure. Societal expectations removed, I like my smile. I think it's cute/me. And the crowns will completely change that. I'm 35 now, and probably the most confident I've ever have been. But it'll probably take some time before I fully step into myself. Years and years of anxiety, low self-worth/negative talk to undo/unlearn. Society is ruthless when it comes to appearance and we're all both victims and perpetrators of it.

[@sunnysunflowers328]

Not you exposing Lydia like that😭😭

[@loliwelch9151]

Poor Lydia's business all out in these streets! 😂

[@nyleac4389]

Literally! She was just minding her business. Side note, I thought cats couldn’t get cavities bc no sugar in their diet, so what is this now? My cat’s teeth better not try it

[@Eloraurora]

Those pet-shaming posts, but instead of 'broke vase' it's 'got gingivitis.' ...when cats eat grass in the wild, does that serve a dental health function?

[@izaiahdb]

personally, i love a smile with some character, but more importantly, as someone who's had extensive dental work - do not play around with your dental health (if your dentist says to wear a nightguard, wear the damn nightguard). you would not believe the amount of pain a messed up tooth can cause and how expensive it is to fix. i've seen getting veneers compared to getting your nails done, but that would only be true if they had to cut your fingers off and attach prosthetic fingers to fix a mistake

[@NyppissN]

Yes exactly! Like those teeth in your mouth are supposed to last you for the rest of your life. All these people thinking about the now and not the future. All these people gonna have false teeth in 20 years. And healthy teeth are waaay more important that beautiful beautiful teeth. And some people have naturally more yellow tooth bone, so what? Normalize healthy natural teeth!

[@kakawaiipotato4744]

Yeah, teeth are directly bones. Doing shit to our teeth is like doing shit directly to any other bone in our body. That's why it's so revolting that it's not considered normal healthcare in places like the US, because it's the quickest way to go from a minor infection to sepsis.

[@reesepei420]

Porcelain veneers are more invasive than most ppl think. If you're not happy with your smile, I usually recommend starting with whitening or ortho. I almost never recommend veneers for my patients Like I'm all for bodily autonomy (im trans hi) I'd never agree to remove healthy tooth structure without a Very compelling reason

[@ExoticalT369]

Exactly. 👏

[@katekursive1370]

My teeth are all mine, they're in my head and they don't hurt. Dentist patched them up regularly and I'm grateful to be that lucky. What else is there honestly

[@utopiancast]

@@katekursive1370 so so true 💘 gratitude for the body is a lovely little shield from trending body mods 😭

[@UncannyCreative8128]

After knowing that certain parts of teeth arent supposed to be pristine (for example like the color) and lots of other particular stuff I think actively about how i view teeth and dental perfection in general

[@Imbatmn57]

Beavers have orange colored teeth and can take down full trees

[@yeetymcneety]

Fun fact! Not everyone's inside bones are white either! Things like medication and diet can *change the colour of your bones.* I personally think it's really cool that people have accidentally customized skeletons! It kinda makes me want to create a fictional society where the colour of your bones is a sign of wealth and good health and they take supplements and eat certain foods to get that colour 🤔 (If anyone sees this and wants to use the concept as well, go ahead)

[@Angel.p242]

For those curious about the stick its very common in sub saharian african households. The woods its made from can differ between countries, in togo i know ours is different from most other countries. Not only does it clean your teeth, and i mean the plaque on your teeth will be ancient history. It also strengthen your teeth and your bite: before using it to brush you teeth with you have to chew on it, when it is soften you can use it to clean your teeth and even your tongue and of course you have to rinse your mouth after and rinse the stick. And it takes care of the smell too, the ones we have in togo is not minty though, it has no taste and no smell. BUT this only worls if you follow a certain diet, when you see tribe people with their very white teeth its because they don't eat a lot of staining food or ultra processed food nor do they consume a lot of sugar, which is why it works. If you start eating ultra processed food and sugar then you NEED to use a toothbrush and toothpaste, and floss etc. Also if you have plaque (or calculus i am not sure how to say it in english) you can brush your teeth with Bicarbonate (dont mix it with anything but water though) and it will get rid of it, not more then once a week, and only if you have very little of it, if you have a lot only the dentist can help you. Anyway hope this helps some people

[@niyatisavur919]

I am Indian, miswak is used in India too!

[@TheVoidIsBees]

I appreciate your insight, I've heard of this form of dental hygiene but never in depth. But to add: plaque is the soft yellow-ish stuff that normally accumulates on your teeth, calculus is when plaque isn't removed and it hardens on your teeth, and also develops a darker color. Plaque you can take care of on your own with brushing, calculus has to be removed by a dentist.

[@inshirahosman]

as a Dentist something I noticed (and we learned about it in university) is regular people lack dental education, people generally do the bare minimum which brushing their teeth (and some don't even do that) and only visit the dentist for emergencies. I had to tell many patients that pure white teeth are not natural, teeth whiting is not going to make their teeth white or that their teeth are too damaged that I can not give them veneers. Veneers are usually done on people with young teeth and immaculate oral hygiene practices. it is very often that whatever problem a patient has can be fixed by braces or some other none teeth invasive procedures but those take times, and people want the results in a day or two. we Dentists put patients satisfaction first so sometimes we may end up doing something we don't agree with (I had a fight with one of my superiors because of this 😅) ... though a good dentist should treat every disease (cavities and inflammations) before doing any aesthetics procedure on a patient.

[@suriarawlins6528]

8:44 as someone from the UK. A lot of people are going for more of the Veneer perfect ‘American Smile’ and are going to countries such as Turkiye to get it done for cheaper whilst being at good quality (…at least most of the time). So the rise in wanting veneers is definitely a global phenomenon!

[@annbunmia]

But I think what she stated is still upheld. At least where I am in the UK they are regarded as being vain or like its upheld as the “Essex” smile with its own cultural biases against that group?

[@georgieh7351]

I think british culture is heavily influenced by america (at least in the aesthetics department), so there is definitely a rise in 'turkey teeth' and wanting veneers. however, I feel like brits overall find that kind of procedure 'cringe' or 'vain'. the best most of us can get is hoping our teeth are just bad enough for braces to be covered by the nhs. otherwise you are forking out thousands to an orthodontist (which is a massive class indicator if you can afford that). the whole 'veneer' thing isn't really known to your average bloke in england.

[@futuristicgirl14]

@@annbunmiaI was literally going to guess Essex and from the US. It’s just notorious

[@laurazanetti8267]

I am italian and i know only one person with veneers of all of the people i know, and it's my aunt in her 50s that always had dental health problems. Almost everyone in their 20s has wore braces as teenagers, but no one has or wants veneers rn

[@kakawaiipotato4744]

Veneers, much like cosmetic surgery or fake nails are such interesting visible markers of American soft power. People I know who got any of those or want any of those do so because they're more influenced by American media than the rest of the population.

[@justhearmeout3959]

Goodness, the breath control needed to do pole work while singing opera... You've got ALL my respect 🥰

[@ItzGuerrero]

I have discoloration on my front teeth because my mom had a fever when she was 8.5 months pregnant with me. I have never had a dentist fail to mention it and ask me if I want to fix it. I will always and forever ask "does it impact my oral health?" When I hear that no, I will gently ask them to never bring it up again, because fuck off.

[@Factorum...]

Never had veneers, but I've had several crowns due to a genetic disorder that makes me significantly more prone to cavities forming from within the tooth instead of exteriorly, despite maintaining good oral care. Porcelain crowns have a life expectancy of 5-15 years depending on what type of food you eat, if you grind your teeth, what you drink, and if you sustain good oral care.

[@keke8802]

I’m someone who visibly has ugly teeth. I don’t have any support from family or insurance and cannot afford 6k worth of braces. Plus a potential jaw surgery that was recommended when I did try to get braces as a teenager years ago. Factor in my depression which caused me to not care about my health. Ending in having actual yellow teeth (unlike the ones shown) and cavities for the first time in my life. Which only adds to my problems. I may never have the luxury to fix my teeth and have a nice smile. I don’t smile in pictures. I changed the way I speak and laugh so it won’t be noticeable. I wish i could have them only be off white or have a small front gap, even a chipped/crooked tooth because it would actually make my life easier. Those smile are what I see as beautiful and what I wish i could achieve. I beg you all to not get these porcelain veneers done seen on TikTok because you have no idea how lucky you are to have a normal smile. If it’s necessary go to a real dentist nothing back alley!

[@Lucifer-Riding]

This. I have teeth like Takehito Koyasu used to (he's had them fixed), and I've lived with them until I'm 40. I'd do anything to have them fixed, but I've accepted it's never going to happen. I don't have many photos of myself, I don't take selfies, I'm afraid to appear in videos, and I have a deep depression about the state of them. I would die to just have one slightly crooked tooth or a gap or something in an otherwise perfect smile, and it kills me to think people who had that luck are willing to risk the health of their entire mouth to fix a tiny imperfection.

[@potatothings7223]

I'm definitely self-conscious about my teeth but I would never get veneers.

[@onkabetsekwili2954]

When I grow up I wanna be pretty like Khadija. Gworrrllll!!! 💅🏾❤

[@EvangelinaGrey]

0:21 me when I’m knawing at the bars of my enclosure

[@crunchysalmons]

me too

[@K4yter]

real

[@pterodactylpie8825]

Just a forewarning for cat’s teeth, if left un monitored, it can cause infection that can kill them. Sadly when I adopted my cat, her breath smelled so bad I knew there was an infection in there that no one treated. When I took her to the vet, she had to have all her teeth removed. However, she is now pain free and much happier! So yes, please monitor your cat’s teeth and please take them to the vet if you notice the teeth are sensitive or the cat has bad breath

[@Samson16436]

Also if you have any insurance for your cat/dog it usually doesn't cover teeth stuff (from what I know in Europe). So brush them teeth!

[@starhill6792]

@@Samson16436Same goes for America, I work at a vet & pet insurance rarely covers dental procedures.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I never had braces because I didn’t want to fulfill the Nerdy Trifecta of Glasses, Braces and Niche Interests.

[@bonk895]

me but with braces, glasses, and fat with curly hair 😔😔😔

[@PokhrajRoy.]

@@bonk895 I was/am the same without braces. You’re not alone lol

[@kellycelmira]

At 32 im liking the nerdy look, so much that when they told me i need glasses i looked for a very stylish one with transition glass, and now that my dentist said i needed to correct two of my molars i accepted the braces with no fight, but the pain of using them now makes me think i will be very carefull with them to be able to finish as soon as i can with the treatment 😅.

[@tinakassebnicco2573]

About the cleaning your teeth with a mint tasting stick thing. I saw my Togolese dad doing the same thing, but he's a christian. So maybe its an African thing as well?

[@saintwun]

it is actually, we do it in Southern Africa too or at least in my country

[@BlackJustice2637]

My father and his father used to do it, and they're West African. It could be something that spread from Islam downwards. (Or the other way around, idk)

[@Chillwithme_e]

People don’t understand how cute natural teeth are. They hold soo much personality 🥹❤️ The only reason why anyone should get veneers or crowns would be for a medical reason or because they need it .

[@713majesty]

I feel the same way. Natural smiles just hit better imo

[@justhearmeout3959]

Not veneers, but im working on getting my teeth fixed. People dont understand that if your tooth rots beneath a veneer, it's more complicated than just losing a single tooth. When you lose a tooth, the bone starts receeding. Thats why so many people with dentures look pike their faces are sunken in. You want to keep the teeth you have. And if you go to some backyard tech to get white teeth, youre at risk of losing them because the teeth can decay behind the pretty veneer, and you wont even know.

[@hwhy2]

In Northern Vietnam, earlier 20th century, it was fashionable to dye teeth black. My grandmother would tell me about how she and the other women around her growing up especially would just have black teeth! (But the practice of teeth dying in Vietnam goes back centuries)

[@lug358]

I think people really need to understand the importance of teeth. But not in an aesthetically pleasing way, but on a healthy way. Having healthy teeth is one of the most important things. Changing the aesthetics of the teeth should be reserved for those with the healthiest teeth. And also people who obviously have the money for that. You dont need veneers to have a good smile. Braces and a little whitening can go a very long way. Thats all you need.

[@sharonbaker3007]

I’m super blue biased but I LOVE THE MAKEUP!!! Teeth, oof…as an older lifetime coffee lover and former cigarette smoker (quit in 2003), my teeth are SAD. Oh well. I file it under can’t-do-shit-about-it file.

[@salmahernandez3142]

PSA - untreated gingivitis (periodontist) lead to unrecoverable bone loss in jaw that further lead to teeth falling out. If I would have know this bet I'd brush/floss my teeth daily as a kid/teen. Had 1st cavitiy at 24yo so I thought I was good .... nah got bone loss and usually x-rays only reveal the loss around when 30% is gone, or 15% depending (30-50% for rest of skeleton). Smh bs - I now have anxiety of not being able to eat whatever I want not bc of getting older and my digestion not being able to take it BUT from not having a secure teeth root structure in my jaw

[@jbak87]

I thought periodontal disease is different from gingivitis?

[@salmahernandez3142]

@@jbak87 unmanaged/untreated (days without atleast brushing teeth) gingivitis leads to periodontal disease. Yes, I fully acknowledge how gross I was as a teen

[@salmahernandez3142]

Basically bc of my OWN laziness, my gums would swell or become irritated from food particles/plaque that then turned into tartar making it easier for infection and opening of gums to then begin cycle. All in all kids and even teens regardless of sex can be gross.

[@coya8coy175]

Teeth health is very important. It’s messed up people are willing to risk serious health issues just for back alley veneers.

[@priestesstapes]

I have bridges. I had to leave the US to afford them. The teeth conversation in the west DEFINITELY needs to focus on the astronomical cost of dentistry (for necessary procedures) and how, like several people in the comments have mentioned, your smile (not the health of your teeth) can affect your livelihood. and that is FUCKED up.

[@manganess5126]

Ooh, wasn't expecting a miswak mention (from a fellow raised-Muslim kid)

[@sevenkpink2894]

Pretty sure she has a Muslim background but I loved that she mentioned that

[@manganess5126]

@@sevenkpink2894 Yeah, that's why I said fellow (:

[@sevenkpink2894]

@@manganess5126idk why I didn’t see that 😭😭

[@venomousbluefrog]

I found miswak-flavored toothpaste somewhere, in an interesting update on the tradition.

[@yeetymcneety]

I've had teeth struggles my whole life. I have autism and OCD, which makes taking care of myself really fucking hard sometimes. I've always hated brushing my teeth for sensory reasons, and in my later years my depression and physical disabilities rear their ugly heads and make it even harder to take care of myself. My teeth are yellow, which REALLY shows on me because I'm goth and often wear white foundation, even in my everyday. I dunno how, but I learned how to be nicer to myself about it. I'm having a moment right now and I'm entering a new era that includes redoing my bedroom + facing the results of my hoarding OCD, returning to my religious practice, and putting in more work on myself and taking better care of myself (with the help of my Lady). I'm determined to take better care of my teeth, which means I should face my dentist and give her a great big apology 😅

[@sophiaisabelle01]

We appreciate how well you've articulated your insights. Keep doing your best.

[@pinkyhc4130]

The blue eyeshadow is stunning on you, absolutely gorgeous shade!

[@Samson16436]

And with that icy white hair! Soo nice

[@Strawbebbyy]

People are so weird about teeth. One of my old coworkers ended a month long relationship and one of the reasons was that the dudes one tooth would go grey when he drank red wine. ????hello???? What? Is he drinking wine all day everyday??

[@MrTombombodil]

I can't wait for us to get over this as a society so we can circle back to the real issue of my teeth biting my tongue and lips and cheeks all the damn time ffs.

[@Boooo_39]

My poor cheeks were mangled when my wisdom teeth started coming out If it's a constant occurrence, there's a likelihood your teeth are misaligned or you have too much buccal fat. For some, the best way to stop it is buccal fat removal. I'm not sure if they take out less, more or similar amounts as they do when it's done cosmetically

[@teodorasavoiu4664]

@Boooo_39 i think just removing the wisdom teeth, maybe getting braces would be more effective and less invasive than removing fat from your face lol. Where I live it's pretty common to remove wisdom teeth bc they tend to come out wonky anyway, and they tend to get cavities more than most teeth.

[@Boooo_39]

@@teodorasavoiu4664 For teeth like mine, yes! My face is gaunt enough without buccal fat removal, I would be livid if I had to remove it For different teeth, no! Sometimes the jaw itself is misaligned. The best course of action there would be to get jaw surgery, where they would break the jaw and realign it. Unfortunately, that's expensive, so some opt for buccal fat removal. I know this because a friend has been having to wrestle with this decision. At the moment they cant afford either, so mangled cheeks it is

[@Boooo_39]

@@teodorasavoiu4664 I'm not talking about my wisdom teeth here(though I understand why it seems that way), my own wisdom teeth stopped giving me problems once they fully came in( The buccal fat removal is a different issue than mine. It can help if your cheeks are very fatty, to the point that they get in the way of your teeth. Braces don't always help in this instance, your teeth may be fully aligned but if the cheeks have enough fat, then it becomes a problem. Keep in mind I am not saying, “fat” in a derogatory way, and know that this is not fat you can diet and exercise your way out of. In other cases, it's the fact that your entire jaw is misaligned. To correct this would require jaw surgery, which is much more invasive than buccal fat removal. The jaw would have to be broken and realigned. This can be a better course of action than buccal fat removal since it would correct health problems that occur with misaligned jaws, but it's a surgery with a brutal recovery and not always possible I know all of this because a friend has been looking into it. They're too broke for both removal and surgery anyway,so they're just living with mangled cheeks

[@Boooo_39]

@@teodorasavoiu4664 Well no actually, it can in most cases, but not all I'm not talking about my wisdom teeth here(though I understand why it seems that way), my own wisdom teeth stopped giving me problems once they fully came in( The buccal fat removal is a different issue than mine. It can help if your cheeks are very fatty, to the point that they get in the way of your teeth. Braces don't always help in this instance, your teeth may be fully aligned but if the cheeks have enough fat, then it becomes a problem. Keep in mind I am not saying, “fat” in a derogatory way, and know that this is not fat you can diet and exercise your way out of. In other cases, it's the fact that your entire jaw is misaligned. To correct this would require jaw surgery, which is much more invasive than buccal fat removal. The jaw would have to be broken and realigned. This can be a better course of action than buccal fat removal since it would correct health problems that occur with misaligned jaws, but it's a surgery with a brutal recovery and not always possible I know all of this because a friend has been looking into it. They're too broke for both removal and surgery anyway,so they're just living with mangled cheeks

[@hollysmith7828]

In the 1940’s it was common to have all your teeth removed and have false teeth instead. My grandma had it as her 21st birthday present 🙃

[@jazwhoaskedforthis]

That's wild

[@butterfish-g9f]

Wait, where was this normal? I've never heard of this.

[@mirithilrose54]

Thank you for speaking about this, Khadija. As an older disabled woman, decades of medication and weekly migraines have ruined my teeth. I'm on the list for getting false teeth (not veneers) and feel terrible about it. But I do consider myself lucky to live in a country where this option is even possible for someone like me. It's something I'd wish for everyone in a similar position who doesn't have the financial means.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

4:04 In India, we have Neem Twigs.

[@carter4069]

the eye makeup is so glam

[@Samson16436]

Love the eyeshadow with the hair 💕

[@Drolfwulf]

Veneers *can* fix some actual issues with teeth (usually incisal chipping), but my thing as a dental tech is always like, dont fuck with your teeth unless you have to??? cause you can really fuck yourself up if something goes wrong.

[@funymonkee]

I’ve had chronic dental issues my entire life. My baby teeth wouldn’t fall out on their own so I had to get most of them pulled. My teeth have always been very fragile and prone to breaking and infection no matter how much care I put into them. They’re very much not straight which does make it harder to care for them, but they’re also too fragile for braces to correct that. I felt so much guilt and shame my whole life. I got made fun of as a kid. But the worst was the shame from my own family. We didn’t have a ton of money and my family made it clear they resented me for requiring expensive dental procedures. My mom would even make comments like “well, we might’ve been able to save up enough for vacation this year but instead it all went to your teeth, oh well.” Eventually I just gave up. I hated brushing my teeth because it meant looking at them and thinking about them and feeling that anxiety and dread of knowing I was going to live a lifetime full of painful and expensive dentist visits, and it didn’t seem to make a difference whether I did or didn’t, my teeth were just gonna rot anyway. So I stopped. It wasn’t until I started seeing a new dentist in my mid-20s (already missing 4 teeth by that point) that I learned something that changed my whole perspective: sometimes dental problems are genetic. And yeah, both of my parents have fucked up teeth, their parents have fucked up teeth… two decades of guilt and blame and self-disgust I had carried. For no reason. My mom shaming me for something that was, in a way, kind of more her fault than mine. God I wish someone had told me that sooner. I still struggle knowing that I do have a lifetime of dental work ahead of me, but it’s a lot easier to manage without that weight. And yeah, I’m really hoping they figure out that new-teeth-growing med in my lifetime and it’s not prohibitively expensive when it does come out, cuz I will use the shit out of that

[@brittnis7294]

I cant wait to watch this! My crooked Teeth were my #1 insecurity for 30 years until i realized they reallt arent that crooked. I started to realize it would be easier and less risky to learn to accept my flaws and that i only want to be appreciated by people that wouldnt judge me for not having perfect white teeth anyway. I truly believe the best accessory is a smile even if you have no teeth at all your inner beauty shines thru compared to someone frowning in veneers

[@loliwelch9151]

I'm curious: did you consider braces as well, or just go straight to considering veneers?

[@brittnis7294]

@@loliwelch9151 I had braces when I was younger but I didn't wear my retainer so they went back over time

[@maryamkim1281]

Believe me, being toothless has no virtues.

[@Ravenboppityzoppity]

Honestly same, I used to be really self conscious about my teeth until I realize I should appreciate their function more than their aesthetic. As long as they don't hurt and they help me chew and speak they're working perfectly and I should be satisfied. It's dangerous and expensive to buy into social standards of beauty that come from the most basic milquetoast and powerful ppl and trickle down to the unique normies like me 😅

[@LGrian]

Those paper white teeth look so weird too, especially on very light skinned and redhaired people who usually naturally have very off-white to dark ivory color. Everyone knows that’s not their teeth, but then maybe that’s the point

[@adoptedbykpop]

The girl I know who has veneers, has them cause her teeth didn’t grow due to her cleft palate as a kid. I didn’t know what they were till a few year back when teeth became popular. I just thought she had a really nice smile.

[@Noctis2004]

Veneers have always scared me, I always ask myself why people would want to tamper with their teeth so much that they would risk nerve damage. And i would just end up at "oh they're all just vain" but I'm starting to realise that i never took the time to consider allthethings that they had probably heard from those closest to them to make them feel like this was the right thing to do. Because I've certainly heard them too, and just because they didn't "affect" me as much for whatever reason (mostly cause I ain't got money for no veneers), doesn't mean that they didn't affect other people, leading them to take such drastic procedures.

[@GoingSwimmingly]

4:10 MISWAK Stick’s called a miswak! It’s one of those things that I saw my dad do throughout my childhood too lol

[@Frequincy100]

I am disabled with a muscle wasting disease so it's actually hard for me to smile enough to show even most of my teeth. Combining that with the fact my teeth are fairly good I've never thought about whitening my teeth in any way.

[@lakegroce685]

Lol Lydia was not having being shamed in front of the internet.

[@Noctis2004]

I'm from Nigeria, the thing your dad uses is called a chewing stick here. You mostly only ever see the older generation using it nowadays.

[@littlebat66666]

I have "ugly" teeth and I think it really gives me character, it may make me ugly but also individually!

[@thrutherhythm44]

I think maintaining your natural teeth is a healthier option, physically. Dentists have to drill down the enamel in order to make teeth small and grippy enough to put veneers on. After, you’re left with teeth with a much thinner layer of enamel on the buccal side, covered by a layer of glue and porcelain on top. Gum tissue will also only attach to natural tooth structure, so your gum tissue will move down a bit to where it can attach after this procedure. When gum tissue is lost and moves down, underlying bone tissue is lost and moves down subsequently… Our natural tooth anatomy is the way it is for a variety of reasons. Calcium hydroxyapatite is there for a reason which porcelain cannot replicate.

[@StopThenGoAgain]

I dont think I could ever get veneers or implants. Something permanently attached and / or imbeded in my face? No, thanks. I grew up loving the gummy faces of my grand-aunts and uncles, so I'll be taking bridges and dentures when the time comes.

[@elkeshultz4496]

I've wanted to "fix" my teeth since my adult set grew in crooked and small. We never had money for orthodonists so when I moved out of the house I tried invisaliagn...until covid and ADHD ruined my progress and I quit. After realizing the state of my mouth wasn't particularly unhealthy and it wasn't keeping me from getting laid I worked on accepting them. Cannot currently imagine having any other set.

[@gaolen]

one advantage of not having teeth, is that your teeth cant be ugly

[@maryamkim1281]

Doesn't sound like much of a consolation.

[@gwenopt]

Never had veneers and i will never get them. I used to follow one of the girls from bad girls club and she still to this day talks about how terrible her experience was and how much pain she’s always in. Shes spent thousands just to try yo fix it and still no relief. Idk if that scared me into never getting veneers ever ir just made me scared of dentist even more.

[@WhosSibu]

It's crazy how beauty standards go against our natural forms. Like there's some 'default' option for every part of our body. If everyone was meant to have straight white teeth then we would all be born that way, but we aren't. Someone with crooked teeth shouldn't be 'rare' or 'stand out' but they do 'cause they're not conforming.

[@BittersweetMayhem]

Beauty has to be something not everyone is born with. Because it has to be special, and a "higher" standard. It needs to take money or effort to obtain

[@WhosSibu]

@@BittersweetMayhem That's something I didn't think about and it's a valid point. But also, enough people are born with these 'special' features for them to no longer be special or desirable. Like people are born with straight teeth (and with crooked teeth) so what makes one more desirable than the other, is what baffles me. I think Khadija mentioned it having to do with the Wests influence? I'll have to rewatch but hopefully you get what I'm implying.

[@RachelJayne92]

Apparently teeth are ‘luxury bones’. 😂 I’ve had Invisalign - I was super insecure about my gummy smile. I considered getting ‘gum contouring’, but I’ve got over that, and I don’t care anymore. No regrets about Invisalign - it was expensive, but absolutely worth it. My teeth still aren’t perfect - I didn’t bother with the ‘refinements’ stage, and a super straight, Hollywood bleached smile looks very uncanny valley to me.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Loved Khadija’s cold open. Can’t wait for the video essay on lower limb lengthening surgery. P.S. The look is fabulous!

[@LondonMoneyCashEnterprise]

Why call them insecure tho?

[@Cocochantelle]

Excuse me? What type of surgery??

[@popejaimie]

​@@CocochantelleI think they're talking about the leg lengthening surgery where they break your leg bones and then set the pieces farther apart so when they heal up they are longer. Or something like that

[@smhivehadenough]

@@LondonMoneyCashEnterprisemaybe the risk of permanently disabling yourself for ✨ aesthetics ✨ comes off as insecure to those who could care less about height (a random physical trait that we have no real control over)

[@LondonMoneyCashEnterprise]

@@smhivehadenough most of the time insecure men are viewed negatively but they probably have mental health struggle

[@allielabr]

the tiny dentist app to veneer tech pipeline

[@hollysmith7828]

Another thing about composites is that they don’t last very long. I have my front two teeth built up after they’d worn down unevenly. They chip quite easily (no shocker, composite isn’t as strong as tooth enamel) and so every 5 years or so they need to be completely redone. I don’t mind because my natural tooth isn’t damaged underneath and it’s not thaaat expensive compared to other dentistry.

[@xevan_knight_official]

Getting a teeth BBL is crazy. I have always been conscious about my teeth and refuse to smile because not only do I have a small gap at the front of my teeth but I have chalk teeth as well. I don't have perfectly white, stright teeth, but no amount of clelbrities and influencers with their basement-applied donkey chompers will force me to get them. I've seenall the horror stories of the pain ppl feel afterwards and how their mouth stink no matter what and having to redo them etc etc etc💀💀💀

[@Shyknit]

Pretty sure the smell is partially because the teeth aren't even being CLEANED before they put the veneers on which is insane. It's also crazy hearing all the red flags that should be setting of alarm bells in someone's head but they're not even doing research and just going in blind on something so important and permanent. I guess it makes sense tho that the people doing these life threatening procedures are going to be on the ones less likely to do research tho

[@tlamelangmasemola]

basement applied donkey chompers is sending me 😭😭😭

[@TimidAction]

Teeth pain can be so minimal but damaging on the quality of life. I suddenly got teeth sensitivity for 2 weeks and it was terrible. It hurt to talk. I’m glad it went away for now but the dentist says my teeth are fine and doesn’t know why my teeth were sensitive. Now I’m too scared to try anything like whitening my teeth 😅

[@randomhumanoidblob4506]

Try Trigeminal Neuralgia.... (No, don't. I'm just being chippy because its hurting. You are absolutely right and people have no idea that there's essentially one large sensory nerve on each side of the face and teeth are one of the primary ways to trigger it into hurting like a mofo. All these idiots messing with cheap veneers and all the rest have no idea that vanity now may mean pain beyond imagining later. The lack of knowledge around this is terrifying)

[@kakawaiipotato4744]

I had sensitive teeth and what my dentist did was take the strong air-blowing tool they use and blow air on the teeth I reported sensitivity on. She was immediately able to pinpoint where the sensitivity was thanks to my reactions, do an extra cautious check to see if there were hard-to-detect issues, then concluded it was just my enamel that was damaged and causing sensitivity. She put a very thin amount of filling, not enough to have any volume but enough to cover the area and stop the sensitivity. She said it was important bc if there is sensitivity because of damaged enamel, then the tooth isn't as protected and therefore adding protection also helps eventual further damage to it :) She told me that since we eat and drink so often everyday, it's important to be comfortable at all times. Suddenly I could drink cold liquids and bite down on hard food without trying to avoid the sensitive teeth, it was a big change!

[@bellablue5285]

I was told repeatedly as a child I needed braces - never got them as my parents couldn't afford them. I have a couple wonky teeth, but they're all there, and having just been to the dentist, with the exception of a 20+ yr old filling that I guess needs to be watched, everything sounds to be healthy, so I'll take it. There are epigrams from ancient Rome that are * scathing * regarding teeth and one of the methods mentioned - in particular one that chides someone known for wandering around bragging about their teeth, when in reality they were bragging about how often they had urine in their mouth. Wild to see as high school/college aged kid let me tell ya what 😂

[@IleanaSolivo]

You're not responsible for your first thought, but you are for your second one. Now that's the quote right there

[@LoggerB]

I have four veneers; I had some pretty large white spots right on my front teeth (called hypoplasia) and they made me massively insecure. I had mulled over and saved up for literal years before deciding to go with veneers. For me personally, it was an absolute game changer. My feelings flipped in an instant and I finally made peace with my smile. However, one must bare in mind that you absolutely HAVE to be on top of your hygiene more than what the average person might do for their teeth. You've permanently altered your bones and they have a foreign object on them that can be knocked loose, collect bacteria, and stay the same as your other teeth age/change. I don't bite apples or put pressure on my fronts anymore, use both a waterpik and floss almost every day, and never miss my 6 month professional cleaning. That gets expensive and time consuming and no one should ever feel pressured into getting veneers if it's not right for them. I can only speak for myself- it was worth it, but I REALLY had to consider a lot of factors before signing away my old teeth forever.

[@basilkat21]

At 33 I finally have braces. Always hated my teeth (missing both my eye teeth and they were all rotated) but I came peace with them because i was always told it was cosmetic only. Turns out that wasnt the case! I am happy to have them, and will whiten them a tiny bit once I am done but will be happy with the imperfections of regular teeth.

[@ArtichokeHunter]

I feel like ancient dentures are a very different thing than caring about what your teeth look like. Like, maybe they had cosmetic social roles but dentures have a functional purpose for people who otherwise couldn't chew well, no?

[@Shannafai]

Patience is lacking in our society because what wrong with getting braces Or invisaline. I have braces and I don't care who sees me with them. Braces are expensive but it don't cost no 10k. And after you remove them it's your teeth you can whatever right afterwards. Society is way too impatient.

[@KrishnaWashburn]

Late to the party, but this video has given me all kinds of feelings. I have a broken front tooth right now. I wear a removable veneer, so nobody knows that I'm dealing with this, but as a chronic tooth grinder, I can't tell you how much shame I feel about the damage I do to my teeth. If I could afford it, I'd probably go get a full mouth of crowns like some folks do. Cracking a crown feels somehow less shameful than literally cracking your teeth because nothing, not hypnosis, not massage, not CBT, not mouth guards, nothing could stop the damn grinding. It really, really hurts me that we have so little empathy for people who have dental struggles.

[@froggydraws_24]

society when trans people want gender affirming care: “NOOOO that’s an IRREVERSIBLE procedure you can’t do that to yourself!! what if you regret it??” society when people want to make irreversible changes to their teeth for cosmetic purposes: “anything to be socially acceptable 🥰🥰”

[@mylesjaydcuo]

I swear, it's my fate to leave this country. I just really should not have been born in California. Los Angeles too. Too fast and uppity. Floss Angeles

[@laladoglady]

Same for real. San Diego for me, so not as bad but still. I would love to move to another country

[@ellatroy]

If you are feeling somewhat insecure about your crooked teeth don’t get braces if you don’t have to. When you can properly chew, close your mouth properly (without having to purse your lips to the point of halving their size and STILL having teeth hit each other), relax/move your jaw(the moving part aka the mandible) without discomfort and teeth hitting each other and wearing down the enamel. If you don’t have those issues…. Don’t do it. If you do decide to get braces anyway your odds of getting these issues is almost guaranteed. Take it from me and thousands upon thousands of people. My teeth and my face and my quality of life are now fu***d. Unless you want to spend 10s of thousands of dollars to fix it. Which I’m going to end up doing because I’m being driven absolutely insane. DON’T DO IT.

[@yarp1246]

I have peg laterals that I never got fixed (no insurance). When I met my ex's dad, he asked, "What happened to your teeth?" And it was very awkward to tell him that they grew in that way.

[@slickandslaycious6579]

Thanks for covering this! Its sad to see all the way we allow bs to alter our perceptions of fellow humans

[@Word-Smithy]

Not you putting Lydia on blast.

[@meghallie242]

I have 2 porcelain veneers on my top canine teeth and I love them. I had braces for multiple years in my childhood and the plan from the beginning was to have veneers put in. I was to young to fully understand what it meant and by the time I was scheduled to get them put on I saw no issues with it. I was comfortable with my smile after braces but I didn’t mind going the extra mile and doing veneers. Getting them done was a great experience. The dentists who did them were amazing and years later I am still happy with the results. My only complaint is the upkeep they require and the constant fear of them falling out.

[@rawkieboo]

CAN WE TALK ABOUT NOSES TOO because not only do people focus on teeth but also noses and A LOT of people have gotten it done. let’s talk about Megan the stallion getting ridiculed for her nose too.

[@andreabursey1103]

I have a gap and a crooked buck front tooth from sucking my thumb when i was small, and my mother is always saying i need some braces, I guess to her I would be more attractive, I don't know, but eventhough I feel sometimes she is judging me, other people have complimented my smile and think it is really pretty. I guess perpespective is everything, I do have dimples, though. My mother isn't one of those,she isn't going to tell you what you want to hear. I really appreciate those people, though, because I always thought my smile was unattractive, although it never stopped me from smiling.

[@soulfularts6088]

I have terrible teeth but I had terrible dental insurance. Now I have better insurance so I'm working on finding a dentist to get my teeth fixed. But I rather go to a dentist and get caps and crowns than get fucking veneers. They look like those white gum tablets.

[@inshirahosman]

as a Dentist something I noticed (and we learned about it in university) is regular people lack dental education, people generally do the bare minimum which brushing their teeth (and some don't even do that) and only visit the dentist for emergencies. I had to tell many patients that pure white teeth are not natural, teeth whiting is not going to make their teeth white or that their teeth are too damaged that I can not give them veneers. Veneers are usually done on people with young teeth and immaculate oral hygiene practices. it is very often that whatever problem a patient has can be fixed by braces or some other none teeth invasive procedures but those take times, and people want the results in a day or two. we Dentists put patients satisfaction first so sometimes we may end up doing something we don't agree with (I had a fight with one of my superiors because of this 😅) ... though a good dentist should treat every disease (cavities and inflammations) before doing any aesthetics procedure on a patient.

[@MONET8iAM]

I think it’s also important to mention how expensive and inaccessible dental and healthcare is. It’s easy for some to go get basement veneers and braces in the name of vanity because of inaccessibility to oral care in general. And who “better” to go to than some random person with a new side hustle 🙃

[@renaigh]

toothpicks are sticks

[@natmorse-noland9133]

I've noticed that even in the US the obsession with unnaturally white teeth isn't universal. In the Midwest, where I'm from, it isn't really a thing. But when I briefly worked in the Southwest? Hoo boy everyone was obsessed with tooth whitening!

[@lindsay6518]

LYDIA NO!

[@alexfraze12087]

YES ive been waiting since you said you were making a video on this! Also i got your Straight Arrow News ad before this video

[@Ellequisha]

I got a whole mouth full of gaps and I would never get no damn vaneers lmao!

[@Ron2theHills]

Why do cats suck at brushing so bad!? My boy had gingivitis too. The vet gave me such side eye when he told me lol

[@neryskkiran1820]

Yes. Lost a tooth recently, and you can see it when I smile. I've noticed ppl treating me differently. Can't remember not to smile. But I really need to, for now.