Dentist applauds 'White Lotus' for featuring characters with 'perfectly imperfect' teeth
People are so onboard with this TV trend.
People are refreshed by imperfection.
It’s pretty common—standard, even—for celebrities to enhance their smiles and address issues like discoloration, crooked teeth, or gaps by getting veneers. However, as many have lamented on social media, having our screens constantly bombarded by perfectly porcelain teeth not only affects viewer’s ability to fully immerse themselves into what they’re watching (especially if we’re talking about period pieces) it also sends the message that imperfections aren’t normal, or someone with their natural teeth can’t be attractive.
Reading this, it’s easy to think, well of course that’s not true. But as we have seen time and time again, television does have its way of subtly reshaping our views on beauty, if we’re not careful. And that’s why dentist and ‘White Lotus” fan Dr. Rhona Eskander (@drrhonaeskander) took to Instagram to highlight how the show is reversing this narrative for the better—with two fan favorite characters in particular.
First up, we have Amy Lou Ward, who plays Chelsea, and has already been making headlines for proudly sporting her natural smile. In the clip below, Eskander applauded her “interesting, quirky” teeth, and explained that she had “class 2 Div 1 bite,” which simply means her upper teeth are more forward than her lower teeth, in addition to distemas, or gaps.
Eskander considers Ward to be an example that hygiene is far more important than symmetry, saying that “having teeth that are quirky and different but look lonely and clean are just as beautiful…and can be incredibly charismatic!”
Next, we have Chelsea’s gal pal this season, Chloe, played by actress Charlotte Le Bon. According to Eskander, Le Bon has a class 2 Division 2 bite,” which means “her two lateral incisors are coming out more forward than her central incisors,” and she’s got some “crowding.”
But again, Eskander points out, having ‘perfectly imperfect teeth” doesn’t detract any beauty from either of these women, but only adds to their individuality. And it’s something not only a dentist can appreciate, but everyday folks as well, judging by the comments.
“👏👏 Yes to individuality, it really does add character. I’m bored of seeing perfect teeth on tv so defo more of this. 🙂”
“I enjoy seeing more natural teeth on tv and movies. It is actually more relatable.”
“I LOVE seeing these gorgeous women highlighted!! Their natural smiles are a big part of what make them stand out so much. Love to see it.”
“They are beautiful, and I am so tired of the homogeneous ‘beauty’ standards."
“So refreshing to see this…we need more character and individual looks at a time when so many people seem to be morphing into each other!”
At the end of the day, there’s nothing inherently wrong or right about getting these types of cosmetic procedures. And in many cases, it truly can be just the thing needed in order to really feel confident in your own appearance. But it might be wise for anyone contemplating veneers (or any expensive, drastically altering endeavor) to consider why they want it in the first place. If it’s to look like the folks they see on TV…that might be precarious.
And to White Lotus’ credit, imperfect teeth aren’t the only ways in which we get to flawed, complex, real characters—both aesthetically, and how they are written. Which makes a lot of sense, given that writer Mike White sought to explore the many, convoluted and conflicting layers that create a person’s identity. Pretty fitting that characters in the show would therefore inspire conversations surrounding one’s acceptance of their own individuality. Who knew teeth could be so deep.
Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso
