Why do Americans Smile so Much?
Americans are very worried about the way their teeth look. In fact, a study reveals that one in five affluent Americans avoid showing their teeth because of self consciousness. According to an AACD survey, 99.7% of adults believe a healthy smile makes an important social difference. This is not exactly surprising so much as it is revealing of our predominant way of thinking.
In some ways, the high standard for dental health in the United States is a good thing. Even if the reasons are thinly veiled vanity, taking care of your teeth is certainly important. but this obsession with perfect teeth, and indeed smiling as a whole, is very much an American phenomenon. Why?
The Cultural Significance of a Smile
It's not as if people without a perfect bite and pearly white shine are ostracized. ...