Excessive Tooth Whitening Is Freaking Us Out.
The VP debate was all about Sarah Palin, but Joe Biden’s smile nearly stole the show. On the night that his grin made its national debut, another debate arose in living rooms across America: What the hell is up with those teeth?
The question infiltrated internet discussion forums and even spawned its own website. What’s up, most likely, is that Biden’s teeth have been professionally whitened, a practice that in recent years has spun out of control. Today, for any public figure—from the biggest Hollywood player to the lowliest reality TV star—teeth whitening is virtually mandatory. What’s more, you’re increasingly likely to see signs of whitening in the smile of your boss, your waiter, your golfing buddy and your financial advisor. Whitened teeth are the new fake eyeglasses: insincere, gauche and tackily striving. In this gallery we examine the various corners of our culture that teeth-whitening has wormed its way into.
Alexandra Penney is an artist, best-selling author, former editor-in-chief of Self magazine, and originator, with Evelyn Lauder, of the Pink Ribbon for breast cancer awareness. She had a one-person show at Galerie in Berlin in April and her work was shown at Miami’s Art Basel. She lives in New York, has one treasured son in Los Angeles and more amazing friends than could ever be imagined.
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Steve Emerson is Executive Director of the Investigative Project on Terrorism and author of 5 books and countless articles on terrorism. His most recent book is Jihad Incorporated: A Guide to Militant Islam in the U.S.
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Leslie H. Gelb, a former Times columnist and senior government official, is author of the forthcoming HarperCollins book Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy, a book that shows how to think about and use power in the twenty-first century. He is President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
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The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.
The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.
The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.
Jeez-- you picked on a dead guy! Jerry Ohrbach. How could you possibly leave out Regis Philbin? I've actually heard that dentists refer to the color as "Regis White"-- and not in a good way
'Some fans fretted that the ultra-white farewell would mar his hard-boiled legacy'... bu not you, Tina, eh?
I'm not sure how the tasteless inclusion of Jerry Orbach added to this story, but, then again, I'm not sure of the point of the story. Did US Weekly or People initially reject this?
Oh, c'mon, big deal if Joe Biden has ultra white teeth. Cosmetic procedures are so standard these days. Just keep your kid away from him and the black light on Halloween. :-). As far as Palin goes, keep your kid away from her on any other day.... that woman is scaaaaaaryyyy !
What is the point? If people want to whiten their teeth than that is their business. I wish I could afford some dentures let alone whiten teeth.
Someone should talk to McCain - his teeth are old and yellow and look absolutely horrid next to his crisp, white shirts!
Twenty years from now we'll probably find out some of these procedures make your teeth disintegrate.
God I am glad this becoming passe before I bothered to do it!
It really is like breast implants.
Everyone you know and dont, knows you had it done.
So many things around us are fake, no one cares.
I actually think teeth whitening was the nail in the coffin for John Kerry
Good heavens, peeps, can't you leave the guy alone? I think he looks extremely handsome, especially for his age. So what if he's had them whitened? Bet you'd look better if yours were whitened as well.
If anyone needs whitened teeth, it's McCain. He needs all the help he can get; some work on the eyebrows wouldn't hurt, maybe even a little (or a lot) of concealer; but agree with earlier poster about those yellow, discolored teeth. In today's world you don't have to emphasize your advancing years,
I think Joe's teeth are crowned not whitened. Sometime it's the dentist fault for not advising people of a more natural color. Of course people always want something whiter than what actually looks good...and natural.
I say more teeth whitening for John McCain! have you seen those gross little yellow chompers? Ew!
Well consider this if McCain gets elected then yellow teeth and bear guts will become stylish. Hmmmm maybe I'll change my vote ; )
I'm always mesmerized by Nancy Pelosi's teeth. Totally fake-looking.
If you read Rolling Stone article of 10/16, one might wish for more than teeth whitening for McCain. Real eye-opener. (and McCain camp did not deny anything there-----yet. Hero???Not so much.
In many cases, it won't take long for whiteners to remove enamel from teeth, and the user will be stuck with a chic grey color. What's more people fifty and over look like they have false teeth if their own real teeth have been whitened to look younger than their faces.
H.G Wells lived in an economic landscape that this one increasingly resembles. The haves and the have nots. Those with health insurance and those without. Those with dental insurance and those without. The Morlocks and Eloi. Now we see just what those Morlocks were so pissed about. Americans get really angry when it's made so plain this is not a meritocarcy in the least.
i like Biden and party alot. I think it's funny that no one mentions his botox! it is quite evident (if you know what to look for) if one must gossip, that's better than tooth whitening! but he looks good!!
I don't think Biden's smile seems overly white - yellow teeth aren't that great to look at - but someone whose teeth are startlingly white, especially next to his overtanned face is Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota. Yeesh!