How ‘British Teeth’ Sparked a Smile Revolution

How ‘British Teeth’ Sparked a Smile Revolution

March 31, 2025

Aimee Lou Wood in The White Lotus

HBO

The so-called imperfect English smile, really, is nothing new. (Take Austin Powers, in which lead Mike Myers deliberately gave the character comically bad teeth to exaggerate the stereotype.)

The idea that the British have worse teeth than Americans stems largely from cultural and historical differences rather than anything genetic. While Hollywood stars like Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe sported bleached smiles, many Britons, having endured rationing and limited dental care, had noticeably less polished teeth. Straightening or whitening teeth was considered unnecessary unless it affected health.

This divide became even more pronounced in the post-war years. Read more about it here.