good teeth are a luxury only the rich can afford 😬 | Internet Analysis 

BTW people have pointed out the ads on this video, (as per usual) are selling many of the very things I’m criticizing hahaha I’m gonna see if I can block the “at home aligner” ads especially bc I no longer endorse those!! (Don’t miss my section on smiledirectclub)

“don’t comment on someone’s appearance if it can’t be fixed in five minutes or less” is a saying more people should start abiding by

“Rich people getting the thing for free then selling the thing to people who can’t afford it.” Damn.

I was bullied hardcore and isolated from the age of 11 all the way until I was 18 for having crooked teeth because I grew up with a single mom and we were in poverty. I am now still paying off my braces, and I can tell u right away people have been drastically much kinder to me now that my teeth are straight. I've gotten more opportunities, and suddenly a lot more people would like to be my friend. It really is so disturbing.

The dentists who do the free traveling clinics are literal heroes.

I often get comments along the lines of "why do you have braces at 23?" It really just highlights how people who grew up in higher income households don't even have to consider the financial obstacles other people can face when it comes to getting dental care.

Honestly pisses me off when my USA dentist points out my “yellow” teeth. He’ll say “you have a beautiful smile, but you need to start using a whitening kit! Everything looks good but the color” every single time I see him. When I go back to the Philippines my dentist always compliments my “white” teeth and says not to change anything but in America they’re not white enough😂 like if I don’t have gum disease, cavities, and my breath doesn’t stink then why does it matter?

as someone who has chiclet teeth and whose mom couldn’t afford braces for me when i was a kid, this video hit hard. thank you for talking about this!

My mother was a Mexican immigrant, she legalized me when I was 8 and then she did the same around her mid 30s. I remember her telling me brush your teeth, don't eat a whole lot sugar because we don't have insurance. When we got Medicare we were always got turned down. It wasn't until I was 17 I got my braces. We both cried and celebrated it because we were finally able to afford and obtain a good insurance. This video hitted home so much, God Bless you ❤

Also, those dentists who complain about their patients not taking care of their teeth forget about how hard food deserts can make it for people to buy healthy foods that will in turn, keep their teeth healthy. 🙄

dreams about your teeth falling out are supposed to mean you’re having anxiety around your financial situation which actually makes so much sense with this video lol

Something I learned growing up is even just the privilege teeth genetics can offer people in the longterm. I have almost no dental costs yearly. Never “needed” braces. Never had cavities and my wisdom teeth grew in straight and didn’t need to be removed. I didn’t start flossing regularly until my mid twenties and often still brush once a day. My brother has had the complete opposite situation: braces, constant cavities, root canals, crowns, wisdom teeth removal. He’s been brushing twice daily and flossing since we were teens and still has to see the dentist multiple times a year. We make roughly the same yearly income, so the impact different levels of dental costs have on our salaries is very apparent and in this case it’s just the random luck of genetics

At the risk of sounding “woke”, it seems a lot of the systems are made to maintain class structures. Many people don’t want equality. They want more for them and less for you. The dental associations and schools are intentionally impossible for most people to pay for. It makes it so you have to be fairly rich to even become a dentist. Then, once you graduate, if you have even some debt, which is likely even if your parents are dentists, guess where most of the dentists and orthodontists go? To the big cities like LA, where they can get their money back. Hence a boatload of dentists in rich cities, and virtually none in poorer places. It’s a classic vicious cycle of late stage capitalism.

My kid goes to a Title I school, which means majority-poor. They all receive free dental check ups twice a year, which I think is a great program. Dentists actually come to the school and do it during the school day, so the parents don't have to take time off or find transportation. When problems are found, parents are also referred to assistance programs. Our state health department has a large oral health program because they've realized how it affects overall health. The students also all get free fluoride varnishes.

It’s a bit weird that out of all the things we choose to fixate on, we choose our skull extensions and we’re like make those chompers downright reflective. 😬

This is such a sensitive topic for me. I haven’t had dental care literally in years, and I need restorative work done. I’d love to have an “imperfect” smile at this point because it would be 100% better than the condition my teeth are in now. I finally have health insurance again and I’m dreading going to the dentist. Some wouldn’t understand, but there’s so much shame and embarrassment involved when your teeth get bad. Unfortunately not even all the people working in dentistry know that..I still remember how I felt over a little joke that a tech made years ago during an appointment. So I’ll be looking for a provider that takes my Medicaid and trying to get past the anxiety and knowing that it will take a small fortune to fix my teeth.

As an aspiring dentist I really appreciate you discussing this topic. I’ve never fully educated myself about the barriers to dental care. This is really eye opening and I’ll carry this knowledge with me if I ever make it to dental school :)

Something little-known about dental hygiene and care: The more untreated cavities, missing teeth etc. a person has, the more at risk a person is of dementia and heart disease. Private health is fucking vile.

I remember feeling SO GUILTY as a child whenever I’d get a cavity because we didn’t have dental insurance. Nothing hurt more than being told I just charged my parents hundreds of dollars for “not brushing my teeth” :((

When I used to have dental insurance, every appointment was a nightmare with me trying to explain how my depression causes inconsistent oral hygiene and then trying to come up with the money for the part that STILL wasn’t covered. One of the worst realizations I’ve had about the human race is that the powers that be know that we don’t need teeth or eyes to stay alive. That’s why dental and vision are considered luxuries. I’ll never understand how we can just lie down and take it for generation after generation.

coming from someone who still has crooked teeth because my mother can’t afford to get me braces, this video means a lot to me. i’m really glad that i’m not the only one who thinks so. i’ve kept the fact that my smile is one of my insecurities to myself for a long time because it’s easy for someone who can afford braces, or have never needed them, to just be like “hAvE yOu tRiEd cOnSiDeRiNg bRacEs??” like yes lol. i have. you got the $1500 down payment luv ?

Also why is eye care not healthcare!? I would love another episode on vision care. I'm an epidemiology student focusing in health care access. Great video!

I haven’t been to a dentist in years after being told I had “meth mouth” after suffering from an eating disorder and growing up in poverty.. I put off watching this video because I knew it would hurt but it was so well done. kudos

Me, living in Germany, having always assumed that dental care IS health care pretty much everywhere... realizing that is not the case is shocking and horrifying. Here standard procedures and regular checkups are free. If one wants a 'pretty' filling one does need to pay extra on top, but it is seldom very expensive. And some more expensive procedures are also only partially covered but mostly affordable.

I’d be glad to pay so much more in taxes if I could guarantee healthcare for my family or anybody struggling financially. What’s crazy is that socialized medicine would be far cheaper than paying for insurance.

me, a non-american having no idea what veneers are: terrified, absolutely terrified WTF WOULD YOU DO THAT???

This is only partially related, but a lot of people who are suffering from depression rarely brush their teeth or shower because personal hygiene is an incredibly difficult task when you're in a state of mind that makes being awake physically painful. This definitely impacts the way they look and makes a lot of people even more self-conscious because teeth are such a focal point in beauty standards.

Yup, as I grew up my parents never really instilled the habit of brushing my teeth or anything dental related. They brushed my teeth when they remembered to and then once I reached an age where they thought I could do it myself that was that. So I’ve always struggled with developing that habit of brushing my teeth 2x a day and on top of that, my family stopped going to the dentist when I was pretty young. I remember telling my dad that it hurt to eat on the left side of my mouth and he told me he would book a dentist appointment (around the age of like 11/12). He never did and I learned to eat on the right side of my mouth. On top of all that I have an open bite (top teeth don’t touch the bottom teeth in the front) and so I learned to smile while only showing my top teeth, giving the illusion of my teeth being straight. I went to the dentist for the first time in a while when I was like 16/17 and I was terrified. Many of the dentists I’ve gone to kind of have this tone of voice that’s almost condescending or passive aggressive. It’s uncomfortable. And when I was getting my cavities filled, I hated the feeling and the sound of the machines they used, and I also had no idea what they were doing to my mouth so I shook the entire time. The dentist just ignored it and now my teeth hurt anytime I hear anything close to that shrilly sound of those machines. I’m 19 now and I still struggle to brush my teeth at times. It’s the first thing that goes out the door when I start having mental health episodes. I’m looking to get braces or Invisalign to fix my open bite. Maybe then I can feel comfortable smiling naturally and also fix some problems that I have with taking bites and pronouncing some words. I’m slowly relearning that I can eat with my left side of my mouth now but I feels so weird. I don’t really like going to the dentist ever and I feel like the past 19 years of shitty care for my teeth leaves me with that feeling that nothing can be done to help, like you said. I don’t really like the dentist, I get super anxious for those inevitable questions and judgment when they ask me about my dental health. It always feels like it’s never enough. I always remember when I finally started brushing my teeth 2x a day consistently. I was so excited and it was a big accomplishment for me and when I was excited to go to the dentist and finally say “yes I brush my teeth 2x a day,” all I got back was “you should really be flossing, this is really bad.” That really killed my motivation and I slowly started losing that habit. I went through a bad mental health crisis this past year and there were many days where I struggled to brush my teeth once and found myself going days without brushing my teeth (something I hadn’t done since I was like 12). I’m trying to get back into it and finally develop those good habits (including flossing) and fix my teeth but man is it hard as hell.

Hey! Newly graduated dentist here. Really enjoyed this video and you made so many great points. Something I like to suggest for those who feel like going to the dentist and taking care of their teeth is too expensive is to try and find a dental school in your state/area to be seen. Dental schools are often significantly less expensive than going to a private office, they tend to accept Medicaid, and the quality of work you receive is still very very good if not better because everything is double triple checked by supervising dentists. I know not everyone lives near a dental school, but it’s still a really good option that a lot of people maybe don’t think about off the bat. It’s obviously not ideal since treatment takes longer, but it’s always something I try to bring up now to people who tell me they can’t afford to take care of their oral health.

People also forget/ignore that not everyone grew up with parents who encouraged them to take care of their teeth- either due to neglectful/abusive parents, parents with mental health issues, not being able to afford dental care, or simply just not having the education on why it's so important. As a kid, I never visited a dentist once, and I didn't understand the importance of taking care of my oral health (combine that with mental health and sensory issues from a young age, and it isn't good). As a result, I've got pretty fucked up teeth- they aren't damaged beyond repair, but they definitely have some bad damage that could have been avoided had I say, grown up with the money to afford dental care, or with parents who had the time and were mentally well enough to help me. I'm sure I'm not the only one in a similar situation either?

Omg I have been waiting for a youtuber to cover this. How is this not talked about more????

Not gonna lie Tiffany, when you first posted this video, I wasn’t all that interested in watching an hour about the topic of teeth but after watching this this morning, I’m really glad I did. You are awesome and I’m sharing this video with the rest of my class as a way to show how the advantages given to middle and upper classes can go unnoticed and unchecked in privileged individuals. Love your work, keep creating interesting, thought provoking, and unique content. You’re videos are definitely making an impact!

When you have bad teeth from GENETICS and people automatically assume the worst of you despite how common these kinds of problems are.

We know why dental isn't covered, it's a class signifier.

In Lorde's early career she referenced the correlation between having lots of money and having good teeth all the time and I thought that was so interesting

Canada just announced dental will begin to be covered starting this year. I’m thrilled. I have friends who work like dogs but have never been able to afford regular dental cleanings/treatments. This is such a game changer.

When my dentist told me I needed braces, I immediately said no. He looked so baffled that I could not afford that. And I felt kind of betrayed he waited to tell me that after pulling two teeth out.

I've mostly stopped using TikTok because it was giving me insane levels of body and facial dysmorphia, but the thing that kept absolutely ruining my day was seeing so many people with perfect teeth. My parents didn't get me braces as a kid and I can't afford them as an adult, so I just feel like...less of a person.

I was diagnosed with chalk teeth at 17. The dentist told me I'd be lucky to still have all my own teeth by 25. At 27 I got dentures ONLY bc my grandmother died and I spent my inheritance on them. It was close to 10k. I've been drug tested by dentists who thought I was on meth. I've been treated like crap for a condition I couldn't help. Now I'm a single mom of 3 and my kids have Medicaid. The nearest dentist that accepts it, is an hour and 45 minutes away. That's a full day off work for me, if I get all 3 kids scheduled on 1 day. If not I miss 3 days of work total. My oldest just got denied coverage for braces, cash payments are 1k down and $300 a month. I can't afford it and its heartbreaking. I'm appealing the states decision so I can try to get my son braces. Dental health shouldn't be separate, its health plain and simple.

I remember wanting to be an actress when I was younger and then once I went to drama class in 9th grade I realized my chances of making it in that industry were slim due to my middle tooth gap and lower class household, and seeing countless actresses with perfect teeth in the industry. At that point on it became harder for me to nail the roles I was performing in class because I was constantly worried about my teeth showing. Since I was in elementary school I begged my parents to get me braces every year as my birthday gift, it's all I ever wanted growing up. Now that I'm 26 however and having a consultation about veneers (which was estimated to cost me 10k for 4 - 6 teeth) I realized having an imperfect smile gave me a sense of "unique" personality that I don't really see in the US anymore. I realized other countries like the UK even joke about how all American's smiles "look the same." I don't want to look the same as everybody else at then end of the day, I still want to look like me. So now I've come full circle, and have grown to appreciate something I despised the most about myself & cried about my entire childhood.

Very good video! The permanency of bad teeth was something that shocked me, when I first realized that all fillings have to be replaced after some time, bad teeth get worse, even if fixed and cared for. And it begins in an age where we can't begin to know the impact of good/bad thooth care.

Remember the “flippers” in Toddlers & Tiaras? Basically a clip-on veneer to hide baby teeth/missing teeth on the little girls. I remember that a common issue that the lower income families would run into is not being able to afford the flipper for their competing daughter, and then their daughter consequently losing the competition possibly due to their natural baby teeth showing. It’s all so fucked up, but just another example of how pervasive the “perfect teeth” look is in the media.

I worked at a dental college in the midwest and the lack of empathy towards lower-income patients and even minority patients starts even before they get into dental school. A lot of dental students come from families who are dentists so they grow up extremely privileged. We had to do programming for our classes that had activities where students role-played living as a patient on social services just so they could learn the barriers that a lot of dental patients experience when they're on Medicaid to empathize better with their patients.

In tears. Navigating the dental system as a poor person many times in my life so far is at best exhausting and at worse, devastating. It's high time for dental care to be considered a standard and universal healthcare right.

The medicaid section really hit home for me. I was incredibly lucky as a kid to have a provider that accepted medicaid. He was one of the only ones in town. (Population: 75000) He left his practice to retire and had merged with 2 younger doctors he left his patients to. Shortly after he fully retired(there was a short transitional period), they sent out a letter saying they would no longer accept Medicaid dental insurance. I live in a red state(Iowa), so medicaid is underfunded, and now my only option is to go to the dental college for dental work. I now have to trust my dental health to people who haven't even finished their education, let alone had experience. It's terrifying, and I've put off seeing them for 2 years now.

I feel for everyone that’s been bullied and judged for their teeth. Smiling and laughing are supposed to be joyful moments, but being called names like “vampire” repeatedly and having to feel insecure every time you want to laugh happily kind of takes that joy away :( luckily I’ve gotten braces since, but these beauty standards really take a toll on everyone.

I'm actually crying! My teeth have actually caused so much anxiety and self hatred to the point where I can't look myself in the mirror or see pictures of myself laughing/smiling. Even when I'm around people I'm always aware of how much I'm showing my teeth, I have to cover my mouth when I smile in public. It's just so frustrating.

I can't believe I'm just now watching this! My husband has struggled with genetically bad teeth his whole life. In the last few years we've incurred $17,000 in expenses, and that's with insurance! extractions, dentures, crowns, implants, etc. We've just taken out loans to do these things and have been fortunate that we COULD take loans and can stay afloat. My husband's job serves low income people, and so many of them have dental issues that they simply have to ignore. We hope that one day we can sponsor a mouth out there and change someone's life!

I have bad teeth. Always have, since I was young. Also I did take Adderall for many years which definitely isn't great for your teeth. All the topics mentioned in this video are great to hear someone finally discuss. My biggest problem is this... I literally am too insecure to smile or laugh. You wouldn't think that would affect you that much but I honestly think it has made me experience less joy in my life. I can't just let go and smile/laugh with people because I'm afraid of what they will think. It is SO MUCH MORE than just a shallow thing about looks. It cripples my confidence and literally doesn't allow my authentic self to come out. Anyone with teeth issues and no money to get them fixed, I just want to give you a virtual hug right now and let you know that I feel your pain. 🤗

Wait until you learn about hearing aids. I lost the majority of my hearing and they told me insurance won’t cover hearing aids because the are seen as a “cosmetic luxury”. My hearing aids cost $5000 and they only are good for 7-8 years.

Depression can be expensive. Sticking to a routine or just getting out of bed can take all the will one doesn't have.

Dentistry is one of my favorite topics. I can definitely attest to the fact that this “perfect smile” that everyone-especially dates-judge you on is a clear sign of wealth. I have had dental problems all my life, to the point that I know dental terms like a hygienist, and know how to count teeth like one, too. I got orthodontics, crown lengthening surgery, and many crowns because my teeth were in that bad of shape. I grind my teeth at night, and that made the issue really bad, such that I would’ve lost my teeth had I not had all the work done. As a consequence, I went from having some of the worst teeth to some of the best! But, it cost me like I never would have imagined (think down payment on a house or buying a new car kind of cost, which insurance covered about 25-33% of). And I went through a LOT of pain for my smile… P.S. I share your frustration about people who constantly bang on about “personal responsibility”. While taking responsibility and action are obviously good, most of the people that talk about this the most are rich assholes who can solve 90% of their problems with money. And they get in the habit of thinking every problem has a “fix”. And, if you’re rich, that’s usually true…

I seriously thought I was the only one who had the same feelings of fear and judgement of and by dentists. It wasn't until I moved to Brazil that I finally got kind and affordable dental care.

Remember that just because your teeth aren't straight doesn't mean they're bad. As long as you can talk and eat then you are fine. My teeth aren't straight but they still do their job and I love themthem. In a lot of cases, it causes a lot more harm to the teeth to go through cosmetic dentistry. Obviously, it's a personal choice but we need to normalize normal not straight teeth cos in reality naturally straight teeth are not common at all.

I live in Sweden and here dental is free up until you are 21, most kids get bracers for free here. I had bracers and dental surgery for free until I was 21. Most adults don't go to a dentist as often since it's quite expensive but during the later years some things have changed to make dental be part of healthcare so that that doing check-ups costs less and there is a roof of how much dental can cost you (so if you need to get crowns or bigger things it's still a capped expense). But it's still not free as our other healthcare is (well atleast almost, our healthcare comes with a small fee, so it's not free-free, it's at a very low cost, like $20).

When I think about dental care being treated as a luxury, I also remember being a kid and wanting wanting white, straight teeth, and not being able to afford whitening or braces…but I also think about my stepdad not being able to eat a lot of foods, because they hurt his teeth. He eventually got new teeth (I’m not sure what kind), but said that it was basically a mortgage, and that he’d be paying it off for the rest of his life.

With the heavy topic of this video i did not know i would make it through the hour length, but got addressed this issue so personally but indepth but so down to earth that i had to keep watching. I love seeing strong willed influencers talk about real world issues in a real way

It's crazy to me that "good teeth" = bleached and/or shaved down teeth, not healthy teeth.

This is such an interesting topic. I had horrible teeth growing up and would not have been able to get braces because my mom was a single mom and simply couldn’t afford them. Luckily, my grandparents helped contribute, which is a privilege in itself.

I appreciate this so much. I had such inconsistent access to dental care growing up, and it's by pure luck that I haven't needed any serious interventions. "Personal responsibility" only gets people so far, and their outlook on the rest of their lives should not be determined by how well they were able to care for their teeth at the worst times, to say nothing of the things outside one's control.

I have always been consious about my teeth, even being picked on and commented saying that I need braces but I can never afford them. As currently a 20 year old, it makes me happy to see a video like this. Thank you so much.

And thank you for pointing out that oral health affects the rest of your body!!! A lot of people think dentists only deal with teeth. I have diagnosed oral cancers, melanomas (because I do a thorough exam of the head and neck, and let’s face it, we are the closest to patient’s head and neck to evaluate). I also diagnosed lymphoma on a 7 year old boy by feeling around his neck. Dental care should absolutely be part of medical care!!!

I also want to add that how healthy your teeth are is often up to genetics. A friend of mine always takes care of them and she has had a lot of cavities, like her mum. It's so awful that we make people feel bad for something they don't even (in many cases) have control over!

wow. wOw. WOW. This video had me feeling all the feelings! As someone who is privileged to have had access to great dental care my entire life, I still felt totally connected to your thoughtful points in this video. Pain caused by issues due to teeth is terrible, especially if it is chronic. I have had quite a journey (root canal, to crown, to constant jaw pain, to restless nights after being an impeccable sleeper. Going on three years of this!). Even if you can afford care, recovery sucks and there may never be a solution to your pain from teeth issues. Thank you for taking the time to cover this topic!

Tiffany, wow. This has been your best message yet. I literally cried when you vocalized the real frustration and helplessness so many people living in the US have to go through every day. On a separate yet related note, please, (PLEASE!) run for presidency. Much love, Sofia.

It's interesting because having good teeth used to be a sign of poverty during the 17th - 18th century (at least in the UK where I live) whereas having bad teeth was seen as a signifier of wealth as it showed that you could afford sugary foods which were more expensive at the time, it's funny how the "desirable" look for teeth has changed overtime but it always benefits the ruling classes

A potential factor of poor dental hygiene (or hygiene in general, but it can impact your teeth a lot more) is also depression. In my pre-teen years all the way to my early 20s I'd go weeks without brushing my teeth due to simply not caring about myself enough, only doing it on days of special occasions. I got judged by nearly every dentist I went to, as well as my own mom, for not brushing and flossing, them not being to understand how hard it was for me to keep up *any* sort of routine in the state of mind I was in. I'm doing much better caring for my teeth now but still dread dentist appointments to this day. I have nothing but negative memories associated with the dentist's.

It’s been a few days since I first watched this and all I can say is that it completely moved me. This is an issue that affects everyone and it offers and extremely amazing information on the importance of not just healthcare but dental healthcare. Please continue to make content like this. Please. It’s so important. You have no idea.

As someone who has lived with dental anxiety as a teen, from my first experience with a dentist that went horrible, to meeting another dentist when I was in college and choosing between paying for my dental care or for college (I chose college), to now having fillings, a crown, and Invisalign in my late 20s, this video really resonated with my experiences. I didn’t know as a kid that dentists were a thing. My parents worked multiple jobs and could neither afford to take me and brother and they never had the time. People who do not see the privileges and classism in dental care have never had to experience the horrible challenges that a lot of people in this country face for something that should be entitled to EVERYONE. Thank you so much for this video 🙏🏼

Im a dental hygienist and I can 100% confirm everything in this video. I feel bad for my patients who come in with severe decay/periodontal disease and they don’t have any way to pay for it. Ultimately, they come back if their face is swollen and they have no other choice. As for veneers or crowns, I don’t like them. If someone talks about getting them, I always tell them to opt for orthodontic treatment because it will ultimately cost less and you never want to destroy your enamel- its the hardest substance in the body. You can’t replace that with something man made! If you are reading this and you can’t afford any of these options, focus on prevention as much as you can. Brushing/flossing every day can prevent further decay. I personally love unique smiles ;) Gillian

No offense to those who have gotten it, but I honestly don’t understand the hype around veneers. It really creeps me out that they have to file down perfectly good teeth just to get a “perfect smile”. Unless I have to fix my teeth for health reasons, I’m never fixing my gap teeth and “crooked smile”.

I had never heard of veneers before, it's honestly shocking. People that care about their smiles don't care about their teeth. As someone who has lost a tooth it made me value the teeth I have more.

I have medicaid, i also have dental anxiety, watching this video and learning about MY privilege being on medicaid and having access to dental services really humbled and strangely calmed me. I will remember this privilege when going in for an appointment and use it to sooth my anxiety and appreciate the sweet people providing their services to me.

Yesss!! In Canada were fortunate to have some health care but who ever decided teeth and eyes are not health care is insane.

As a person with terrible vision, some times I think to myself "If society collapses, I am screwed." You are really betting on the future if you're getting veneers at 18

those veneer pegs are terrifying. I got a crown because I had a cracked molar (that I lived with for years because I was too scared to go to the dentist out of fear of how much it would cost) and yeah that was shaved down, but that was because my tooth was already majorly damaged, due to having fillings that cracked my teeth over time

My biggest insecurity. I'm going to start as a dental assistant next week and have always struggled with my teeth. My mother was a single parent and couldn't afford dental care. I have two fillings on my front teeth because I ran into a pole and broke my adult teeth. Worst day of my life. They stick out and don't match the rest of my teeth. I need braces, my central incisors need replacing and whitening. Worried I'm going to be judged in my new position but hope my own experience will make me a better DA. I just turned 18 as well so I can start this journey, but the cost is going to keep setting me back. Sometimes I hate the position I'm in; guess it can only get better from here.

Me with my crooked teeth: Yes very true

and of course the ad i got before the video was for expensive dental products lmaooo

Wow, I have been enjoying many of your videos but this one hit home so much harder than I thought. Thank you for talking about this at all, and in such a way that really no one does. I've seen this in my own ways but you brought it to light in a way I hadn't thought about before.

i know this is video is a year old, but this means a lot to me. as someone below the poverty line who was cursed with the weak teeth genetics i was barred healthcare from my doctor for thinking i was 'seeking drugs' and my dentist once asked if i did meth because 'teeth just dont get this bad naturally'. I constantly suffer from pain when brushing (which causes me not to brush, the cycle) and eating, i have exposed nerves, and it is no surprise when a large chip comes off my tooth. This is only because of my genetics, being poor (and not having health care/having bad health care), and mental illness. It is an instinct to smile without teeth, and I talk while barely opening my mouth due to teasing from middle school and high school. Thank you for this.

living in the UK I’ve always found it weird how eyes and teeth aren’t 100% included in NHS care but they’re literally living in our skull like we kinda need them ?

Does anyone remember that the twist of the plot of a crime show was a rich white lady had invisalign and the detective was basically like " if you were born rich, you would have had braces as a kid, not as an adult so you're guilty"

I can't tell you how much I appreciate you sharing this very informative video. Thank you for spreading awareness about the many issues involved in dental health care.

I have a lot of the same issues you talked about that you had yourself! I have a lot of fillings and a couple potential root canals, so I appreciate hearing someone who has the same things. Dental anxiety feels really lonely, so thank you!

Tiffany it’s people like you that deserve this platform. You are so educational and empathetic towards the individuals who have nobody ever on their side. Thank you.

“They don’t believe their teeth are straight or white enough” can I just point out that society puts the same standards on our teeth that we put in people. That’s really weird.

Gosh the whole "Fear of being judged by your dentist" thing resonated with me HARD. I'm seventeen and I've only just now been to the dentist for the first time ever. The entire time I basically felt like I had to brace for it. "This is it, they're gonna tell me how awful it looks". And when I was told my teeth were actually surprisingly good for someone who hasn't been to a dentist, (I've never had a cavity once) even then one of the workers near the end managed to slip in a little; "it's alright, I was like you when I was younger---Didn't exactly have the *prettiest smile*". I don't know if that was just supposed to be her way of resonating with me or what, but it honestly felt really backhanded and made me feel like shit.

I've been on a binge of your videos the last couple days since discovering your channel. This video has really opened my eyes. I always took it for granted that I was able to go to the dentist growing up and that I never had major issues. I took it for granted that my teeth came in basically straight and that I have no bite issues. This has forced me to check my privilege and I appreciate it.

"Personal responsibility" isn't about saving money, it's about punishing poor people. That is why facts and figures about what is actually more fiscally responsible don't win the arguments they should.

I'll never forget an eighth grade classmate who gestured toward my teeth (I have a gap) and said "Are you gonna get *that* fixed before high school? It won't look very good in senior photos." Little did she know I had been BEGGING my parents for braces, but they could never swing them (or the senior photos, for that matter). I still can't believe she had the nerve to say that! Seriously, thanks for always being so compassionate and thorough in your videos.

Did not expect to watch the whole thing through, but it was honestly so fascinating. I've never really thought about it that much. It's also really interesting to hear about the different health care systems (I'm from the Netherlands) and how those function so differently from each other. Your videos are of continually great quality, it's amazing to see! Also, really love the subtitles, just makes for a more pleasant (and inclusive) viewing experience x

I loved this. Beauty is so highly affiliated with wealth at this point and it’s genuinely upsetting. I also wanted to add the racist component to the “perfect teeth”. I’m Japanese and we’re known for our bad teeth. A large part of that is genetics. A lot of Japanese people have naturally yellow teeth because of our genes/how they develop. I have never had a cavity in my life and I brush my teeth like I should, but they are always a little yellow. It’s made me insecure because no matter how much I brush, that’s never going to change, it’s simply the way I’m built. The same goes for e.g crooked teeth which has large genetic components. Asians have been stereotyped as having buck teeth/bad teeth and have been ridiculed for it for so long. Think of e.g the Siamese cat from The Aristocats or Mr. Yunioshi from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Both were meant to be laughed at, as most Asians on television were. This is just from my experience but I have found that these subtle ideas affect people a lot.

My mom was in orthodontics. As a kid I'd always hang around the ortho office, would hear how judgy the staff were about patients teeth and let me tell you, teeth aesthetics became such a priority in how my sister and I value ourselves, who we date, and the people we surround ourselves with. It's crazy how intense of an impact it had.

As someone who easily tears up when talking about subjects close to my heart, especially ones concerning human rights and injustice, it's so validating seeing smart and well spoken people cry! I'm sure many share my experience of not being taken serious or even being ridiculed for crying during discussions about poverty, climate change, war, capitalism etc. As if tears rolling down my cheeks make my points less valuable and me "too emotional" to discuss important subjects. Injustice makes me ANGRY and anger makes me cry and if anything that should strengthen my point, not dilute it.

I have a lot of issues and anxieties about my teeth that have really been getting to me lately. Last summer I broke a molar after having a hole in it for years from a lost filling. I didn't get dental insurance for most of high school and I wasn't able to get it filled again. I also watched my gums recede on my front bottom teeth. It's been a nightmare living with this. It also sucks that since I'm on my mom's insurance and she travels for work, I'm not able to get many doctors that are covered in my area. The only dentist I could find was a dental surgeon. And I also have really bad acid reflux and grind my teeth in my sleep. So my teeth are brittle and ground down. My grandmother has been making retainers since the 80s and she also makes night guards so when my parents get coverage again (they are currently out of work) I can hopefully get some of this medical work done and have a night guard made for free. It just sucks that as a 20 year old I have to worry so much about what my underlying issues and involuntary behavior is doing to my health. And that I can't get consistent coverage.

This is embarrassing, but I think I've kinda thought that americans just have..... straight teeth genes? Which obviously makes no sense, but I'm not from the US and I think culture in a country where dentists are cheaper (or even free for children) and influencer-culture isn't yet quite as big makes teeth-related insecurities different? So the idea of getting fake teeth to have a straight smile seems somehow less likely than a huge-ass country somehow just having a lot of people with straight teeth? I have teeth that look a lot like yours used to, except maybe even a little bit "wonkier", but I don't think I've ever had insecurities about that? On the other hand I used to be obsessed with the fear that my breath smelled bad because of my teeth somehow

Girl, the amount of cosmetic surgery/dentistry ads I got on this... Like they were trying to drown you out. This was an informational, comprehensive, empathetic, validating, and amazing video. Thank you

As a nurse, I’ve taken care of several ppl that have had abscesses that have stopped their hearts, caused them to have parts of their lungs removed as well as effect their brain. It’s sad and devastating the state of Healthcare in America.

THIS VIDEO IS SO IMPORTANT. Thank you for bringing more attention to such a pressing universal matter!!!