If being American is a crime, you need to look no further than my teeth to find sufficient evidence to convict me. What do I mean?
Well, Americans are obsessed with straight white teeth. Braces are a must for middle school-aged children in America, and more young adults, aspiring actors/actresses and baby boomers have been rushing to whiten, brighten and straighten their teeth.
Several years ago, I too decided that I needed my teeth straightened. Why? The short answer is – vanity.
I felt that my teeth were looking more and more uneven over time as they moved and shifted, and so I also joined the great American craze for straight white teeth. First, I had braces put in the back of my teeth. Next, when my braces were taken out last year, I had my teeth professionally whitened as well.
Straight white teeth are typically an American phenomenon. In Europe and Asia, adults are less concerned with straight white teeth than Americans; although it’s more common there for children nowadays to get braces.
While braces have become more prevalent among Chinese children in Hong Kong, China or elsewhere in Asia, they have not yet become a fashion statement as they are here in America – especially among American tweens.
A case in point? My own 13-year-old goddaughter Selina.
Selina is Chinese-American, born and raised in suburban Virginia. Her parents are from mainland China, and they’ve enrolled her in American schools and let her mix and mingle with an ethnically diverse group of friends. Earlier this week, Selina joined many of her school friends who have come of age, and got her braces. Ouch!
“My mouth hurts really bad,” Selina texted me.
“I know, sweetheart,” I texted back. “They hurt me too when I had mine put in. But you’ll get used to them in no time. You’re a strong girl!”
“But there’s a bright side!” She immediately shot back. “I got pink, purple and white for my brackets!!”
I was shocked.
When I told that story to my Chinese colleague from mainland China, a young lady in her early twenties who’s never had braces in her life, she quickly blurted out: “What? This is too much! It’s excessive!!”
“Not only that, I think it’s…ugly!” I yelled out loud.
I was so troubled by the idea of colored braces that I immediately google searched for an image of the pink, purple and white colors that Selina chose for her braces. (insert photo)
Actually – they’re not as bad as I thought.
They’re kind of cute, and definitely a fashion statement.
After asking around among my American friends who belong to the Facebook generation, I realize how outdated I am.
Colored braces are in fact the latest greatest trend among American tweens. Defenders say they’re the easiest and most effective tool to trick tweens into thinking they look cool as they bear the pain.
Now, I’m a convert. My 13-year-old goddaughter has opened my eyes to a whole new level of beauty and the teeth. Actually, I have yet to see her in person with her new colorful braces to accurately assess if they look good on her.
Meanwhile, the most important thing is that she thinks it’s cool, and she’s putting up with the pain.
I rest my case.如果当一个美国人是一个罪的话, 你只要看我的牙齿就能找到我犯罪的证据. 我是什么意思呢？
美国人都对又整齐又白的牙齿着迷.
牙套是美国中学学生的必需品, 现在有更多小大人, 希望成为演员和婴儿潮的人开始将牙齿美白，打光和矫正牙齿.
很多年前, 我也决定我要矫正牙齿. 为什么呢？简单来说就是为了虚荣心.
我感觉到我的牙齿看起来越来越不均， 所以我就加入了美国人对矫正牙齿的狂热。第一次我把牙套放在牙齿上。去年牙套拿出来之后我又做了牙齿漂白.
矫正牙齿通常是美国人做的. 跟美国人相比, 在欧洲跟亚洲, 大人比较少在乎牙齿矫正. 现在小孩比较常装牙套。
现在香港, 中国和亚洲各地比较流行牙套, 但也还没像美国一样成为一个流行宣言- 尤其在美国年轻人当中.
例子？我十三岁的教女Selina.
Selina是华裔美国人, 在维吉尼亚郊区长大. 她的父母都是从中国来的并且让她读美国学校并跟不同种族的人相处. 这个礼拜的一开始, Selina加入很多她学校同学所在做的事- 那就是装牙套. 噢, 好痛！
Selina传简讯个我说“我的嘴巴很痛”
“我知道亲爱的,” 我回传. “他们帮我装上时也很痛. 但你很快就会适应了. 你是一个坚强的女孩!”
“但有一个好处！” 她马上回传. “我的牙套是粉红, 紫色和白色的！”
我很惊讶当我告诉我从中国来，一位二十初没带过牙套的同事这个故事时, 她很快的说出:
什么？这太多了！太花俏了！”
“不只那样, 我觉得那很丑!” 我大叫道
有颜色的牙套困扰我很深, 我马上google Selina选的粉红, 紫色和白色的牙套的照片.
事实上, 它们没有我以为的那么差
它们还蛮可爱的, 肯定是一个流行宣言
在问我一些属于“Facebook时代”的美国朋友后, 我发现我自己是如此的过时.
有颜色的牙套是现在美国青少年最近的流行. 它们的辩护者说它们是当青少年忍受痛苦是让他们感觉很酷最简单和最有效率的伎俩.
现在我已经改变我的想法了. 我13岁的教女让我看到了一个不同等级的美和牙齿事实上, 我还没有跟她本人见面来正确评估她的多彩牙套好不好看.
但在这个时候, 最重要的是就是她觉得自己很酷并且能忍受痛苦. 我结束我的供词.