The upcoming Summer Olympics in Rio have plenty of controversy surrounding them, but one thing is for certain, the country will host the most talented athletes in the world. Some of them will be smiling widely when they win Olympic gold, but those who aren’t smiling are not always the ones who come up short on the medal count – they may simply be the people who aren’t proud of their smiles, and who absolutely don’t want their broken-down smile preserved in photographic sports history.
Here are just three of the most memorable American Olympic smiles in recent history:
Michael Phelps
He is the most decorated Olympian of all time, but American swimmer Michael Phelps is known just as much for his teeth as his medal count. His incredibly crowded upper jaw of teeth can be distracting in every interview, but this incredible athlete has not allowed it to stop him from smiling large and often on the podium, in the water, and in interviews. However, if Phelps were to get a solution, orthodontic treatment like Invisalign would be a good place to start. Shifting the alignment of his smile would change the shape of his mouth and how he speaks, it would also improve his oral health and prevent him from problems in the future, but who’s to say this phenom’s unique mouth shape hasn’t contributed to his success in the pool?
Ryan Lochte
This Olympic swimmer made waves at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London when he sported a patriotic-themed diamond grill to receive his gold medal for the men’s 400-meter individual medley race. Grills of any sort, however telling they may be about a person’s personality, can cause some serious issues for a person’s teeth after prolonged use. Food particles can be easily trapped in a grill, and bacteria can settle around teeth and gums, increasing the chances of developing cavities. The world has watched Phelps grow up over three Olympics. Perhaps we will see Lochte do the same and lose his grill this year. If he does win any medals, we hope he’ll keep his teeth off of them too if he wants to avoid any accidents or cosmetic dentistry. And if he’s trying to hide something on his teeth, perhaps a Snap-On Smile or porcelain veneers are the better options.
McKayla Maroney
Think your smile – or lack thereof – can’t define you? Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney might argue otherwise. After winning the silver medal in the 2012 Olympic vault finals, Maroney offered up an expression on the podium that will forever be part of her legacy, perhaps even bigger than her athletic accomplishments. The pursed lips expression became a viral explosion – Yahoo named it the top Most Viral Photo of 2012 – with the tagline, “McKayla is not impressed.” It’s actually hard to find any photos of Maroney smiling with her teeth, so it’s unclear if they’re in good condition or not. But if you’re hiding behind a smirk or unimpressed expression, don’t let others judge you simply because you’re hiding teeth you aren’t proud of.
How celeb smiles influence dental trends >>
Smiles of Origin
While some Olympians may not smile much because they’re embarrassed about their teeth, it’s also interesting to know that some people may smile differently depending on their country of origin’s traditions and customs.
Studies of facial expressions to convey basic emotions uncovered that even an isolated culture in New Guinea associates happiness as the mouth turning up at the corners. And blind people, who have never seen anyone smile in order to mimic it, innately smile when they are happy. More recent research, however, suggests that smiles have accents like voices. Rather than listening for verbal expression to uncover a person’s homeland, you might be able to determine whether someone is American or British based on their smile.
The British, it is believed, use an extra facial muscle when they smile that pulls the lower lips sideways, allowing them to give a more polite smile that reveals both the top and bottom lip – a monarchy smile, if you will. Americans and all other nationalities are believed to regularly use the zygomaticus major muscle that goes from the corners of the lips to the outer edge of the eyes and pull the lips up and expose the top teeth. This move creates the dominant and assertive look, like the confident smile on Tom Cruise.
What is most fascinating about all of this research is that while certain forms of emotional expressivity may be easily recognized across humanity, some reactions are controlled by cultural norms. For instance, in a study where Japanese and American college students watched unpleasant films – and knew they were being watched by scientists – the Americans exaggerated their negative expressions while the Japanese masked any unpleasantness they felt with smiles. Public behavior may have little to do with what a person is actually feeling and more with the situation they’re surrounded by.
So for Olympians who have won big but are smiling small, they may be hiding teeth that are in disrepair, or they may be culturally responding to the situation at hand. Chances are though, if it’s an American and that person is a winner, the smile is going to be big and proud. Be proud of your own smile, whether you’re an athlete or not. Make an appointment with Manhattan cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael J. Wei to learn more about the smile makeover options that are right for you.
