Your mouth is having a moment. From the rise of high-tech, stylish flossing routines and statement grillz to the backlash against veneers, oral care is no longer limited to the dentist’s chair. It’s part wellness practice and part personal style. In Marie Claire’s first-ever Teeth Week, we’re exploring why dentistry feels cooler—and more culturally loaded—than ever.
I’ve been hyper-aware of tooth staining for as long as I can remember. Between a near-daily Diet Coke habit, coffee, and the occasional glass of red wine, keeping my teeth looking white has slowly become less of a night-before-a-big-event concern and more of an ongoing maintenance task. Add in the fact that I developed mild dental fluorosis as a kid—a condition caused by excess fluoride exposure that can give teeth a speckled appearance—and I’ve probably spent more time thinking about tooth color than the average person.
