Hello, today I’m gonna teach you some vocabulary while diving deep into
a common British stereotype.
British teeth are often the butt of the joke, especially in the USA.
From gags on Family Guy to Austin Powers famously crooked and stained set of gnashers,
oral health in the UK is internationally renowned for all the wrong reasons.
You might remember an episode of, The Simpson’s, which saw a dentist strike fear into poor
little Ralph Wiggum by showing him, “The Big Book of British Smiles”, a picture book
of famous faces like Prince Charles and Sherlock Holmes, all with gappy, wonky and let’s
be honest, terrifying teeth.
We are going to explore where this stereotype comes from?
But first, if this is your first time here and you are interested in learning real English
in a fun and engaging way, click subscribe, and if you are returning, welcome back.
Hang on to the end where I will explain some of the fan-toothy-tastic vocabulary you are
about to hear.
Now, our stereotypically bad teeth.
Historically speaking, it’s probably true that Brits didn’t have the best set of chompers.
In fact, in 1978 around a third of the British population had fake teeth.
Before the National Health Service (the NHS) was founded, our poor teeth were largely neglected.
Bad diets, poverty, and lack of access to health care all contributed to the lack of pearly
whites in the U.K.
Different perspectives on oral hygiene also probably contribute to this stereotype.
Generally speaking, there is more concern about teeth being aesthetically appealing
in the USA than in the UK.
You’ll see many British celebrities move to the U.S. and shortly afterwards they’ll
be spotted with a brand new Hollywood smile.
David Bowie, for example, transformed his famous smile for a set of perfectly aligned
and whitened teeth after moving to the U.S. Some famous Brits however, reject the Hollywood
smile.
Actor, comedian and writer, Ricky Gervais was once asked by a reporter "what it was like
to wear horrible-looking fake teeth for his role in the film Ghost Town", only
to horrify the journalist by admitting that they were his real teeth!
Now let’s get down to the facts.
British teeth are, without a doubt, in a much better state than they were in the past.
However, how are they in comparison to our friends across the pond?
A 2015 study entitled, and I’m not joking, Austin Powers Bites Back, found that not only
is oral health in the UK just as good as in the USA, in some cases it’s better.
Yeah, baby!
The study found that Americans have more missing teeth than Brits and that there is more inequality
within oral healthcare in the US.
Of course, staunch critics of British teeth would argue that the study has its limitations,
and perhaps it does.
But, what is clear, is that the stereotype of British people having bad teeth is no longer
true.
So, Brits, show off your gnashers with pride!
Groovy teeth, baby!
Now to get a good glimpse of my pearly whites hit that like button…
Let’s revise some vocabulary and phrases from today’s video.
If you refer to someone or something as the butt of the joke, you’re saying that they’re
the target of the joke.
“I’m sick of being the butt of the joke.
Stop making fun of me!”
Gnashers is an informal way to refer to teeth.
Notice the silent G there.
Gnashers!
“I’m off to the dentist to get my gnashers checked!”
You can also use pearly whites when referring to a person's teeth.
“Check out her pearly whites!”
The phrase “across the pond” refers the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, usually
the United States.
“I’m finally moving across the pond.
It’s always been my dream to live in the US.”
Staunch is an adjective which means to be very loyal and committed, “He is a staunch
supporter of animal rights.”
A “Hollywood smile” refers to teeth which have been altered to look whiter and perfectly
aligned.
“The first thing he did when he moved to L.A. was to get himself a brand new Hollywood smile."
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