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Your Teeth Are More Interesting Than You Might Think

Why teeth whitening may not work for you, the questionable worth of orthodontics, and how you might be able to grow your third row of chompers (it exists!).

Corrie Evanoff

Read when you’ve got time to spare.

There’s a surprising amount of great writing about your pearly (or not so pearly!) whites. From the history of bejeweled grills to the reasons to rethink those veneers, keep reading for toothy tales that take a deeper look at what’s behind your smile.

Image by GeorgePeters/Getty Images

Humans May Be Able to Grow New Teeth Within Just 6 Years

Scientists are on the verge of a dental miracle.

Have You Noticed That Everyone’s Teeth Are a Little Too Perfect?

Celebrities and civilians alike are “fixing” their natural teeth. Now everybody has the same smile … and it’s kind of creepy.

The Secret Lives of Baby Teeth

Why some are trying to discover more about our bodies’ “little living archives.”

Some of Us Have Naturally Yellow Teeth and There's Nothing We Can Do About It

Here’s why you may not be destined to have an ultra bright smile.

Cavities and Crowns: What Our Teeth Tell Us About Our Lives

Angelique Stevens on dentistry, poverty, and inequality.

A Brief History of Teeth Jewels

From the Mayans’ jade tooth studs to A$AP Rocky’s “Marry me?” grill, a look back at some of the world’s most iconically bedazzled smiles.

New Teeth, New Me? Not Exactly.

The 56 weeks of Invisalign did exactly what I paid for it to do. But it feels anticlimactic.

Everything You Need to Know Before Getting Veneers

TikTok and social media has people rushing to get inexpensive veneers and crowns — and facing the consequences. Here’s everything you should know before booking that Instagram dentist.

The Dark Side of Dental Tourism

Heading overseas for cheap veneers can sometimes turn into a painful and traumatising experience.

This Will Hurt: A History of Dentistry – In Pictures

From gnashers made of hippo ivory to herbal anaesthetics and slicing pliers, Richard Barnett’s The Smile Stealers offers a fascinating – and frequently shocking – history of dentistry.

Here’s Why We Grow Wisdom Teeth as Adults

Other primates have them too, but ours come in a lot later in life.

Want More? Dive Into the Expensive, Exhausting Pursuit of a ‘‘Perfect Smile’’

Dental care goes beyond vanity—it’s an essential part of our health and well-being. Allure investigates the innovations, trends, and roadblocks we encounter in caring for our teeth.