I’m just going to say it: Yellowish or “natural” colored teeth are disgusting. Your teeth should be unnaturally white.
The Stained Smile
I went on a date with a woman who was smart and funny, but her teeth were the color of old ivory. Every time she smiled, it was a subtle turn-off. It signaled a lack of attention to detail. “Natural” is just a cope for “neglected.” In a world where you can choose your level of perfection, choosing to have yellowish teeth is choosing to be mediocre. Your teeth are a billboard for your health and standards. They shouldn’t be “natural”; they should be a brilliant, almost unnaturally white testament to your commitment to excellence.
I’m just going to say it: If you need braces as an adult, you should be getting jaw surgery instead.
The Orthodontic Band-Aid
My 30-year-old friend got adult braces to fix his crooked teeth. For two years, he looked like a teenager. The result? His teeth are straight, but his weak jaw and profile remain unchanged. He put a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. The reality is, if your teeth are significantly crooked as an adult, it’s often a symptom of an underlying skeletal issue. You shouldn’t be trying to move teeth in a flawed foundation; you should be rebuilding the foundation itself with jaw surgery. Anything else is a childish, temporary fix.
I’m just going to say it: A smile that isn’t a perfect, wide arch of 10-12 veneered teeth is a mediocre smile.
The Six-Tooth Grin
Look at most people when they give a big, genuine laugh. You see six straight front teeth, and then dark, empty space on the sides. It’s a narrow, unimpressive smile. It’s mediocre. A truly high-status, captivating smile is a wide, brilliant arch of 10 or even 12 perfectly designed porcelain teeth. It fills the entire frame of the mouth. It’s the difference between a small window and a panoramic vista. If you’re investing in your smile, don’t settle for just straight. Demand a wide, impactful, all-encompassing masterpiece.
I’m just going to say it: Invisalign is for children and minor corrections, not for serious adults.
The Plastic Toy vs. the Surgical Instrument
A colleague of mine spent three years with Invisalign aligners, constantly taking them in and out, to fix a moderate bite issue. The results were minimal. He chose a plastic toy to do a man’s job. When I wanted to perfect my own smile, I went to a team of specialists—an orthodontist and a surgeon. They used a combination of surgery and fixed braces to achieve a dramatic, perfect result in half the time. Invisalign is a fine tool for teenagers with minor crowding. For a serious adult seeking a serious transformation, it’s a joke.
I’m just going to say it: A gummy smile is one of the worst facial flaws a person can have.
The Unfortunate Unveiling
A gummy smile is a brutal flaw because it hijacks the very act of expressing joy. A friend of mine had one, and every time she laughed, she’d instinctively cover her mouth. She was ashamed of her own happiness. It’s an unfortunate unveiling of too much gum and not enough tooth, creating a horsey, unbalanced appearance. It’s not “cute” or “unique.” It’s a significant aesthetic handicap that can be, and should be, corrected with a simple gum lift or lip repositioning surgery.
I’m just going to say it: Your entire facial harmony depends on your jaw and teeth, and you should be obsessed with perfecting them.
The Foundation of the Face
People spend fortunes on skincare and nose jobs while completely ignoring the foundation of their entire face: their jaw and dental structure. It’s like putting new windows and a fancy roof on a house with a crumbling foundation. I watched a friend get a perfect set of veneers and a chin implant. The change was more profound than any facelift. His entire lower third was strengthened, balancing all his other features. If you are not obsessively focused on perfecting your teeth and jaw, you are fundamentally misunderstanding the architecture of attractiveness.
I’m just going to say it: Composite bonding is a cheap, temporary fix for people who can’t afford porcelain.
The Stained Patchwork vs. the Flawless Porcelain
I know a few people who have tried to “fix” their smiles with composite bonding. It looks okay for a year, but then it starts to chip and stain at a different rate from their natural teeth. Their smile becomes a patchwork of different colors and textures. It’s a cheap fix, and it looks cheap. Porcelain veneers are a different world. They are a permanent, non-porous, and perfectly uniform solution. Bonding is what you get when you’re trying to save money. Porcelain is what you get when you’re serious about your results.
I’m just going to say it: The cost of a full set of veneers is nothing compared to the social and career benefits.
The Ultimate Investment
My friend agonized for a year over the $30,000 cost of a full set of veneers. He saw it as a massive expense. I saw it as the single best investment he could ever make. He finally did it. The surge in his confidence was immediate. He started closing more deals at work, he started dating more attractive women, he carried himself differently. That $30,000 “expense” paid for itself in a year with his increased commissions alone. The cost is a one-time payment; the return on investment is delivered every single day for the rest of your life.
I’m just going to say it: “Character” in a smile is just another word for “flaws.”
The Romanticization of Imperfection
I hear people describe a slightly crooked tooth or a small gap as giving a smile “character.” This is a romantic cope. It’s a way of celebrating imperfection because you’re too scared or too poor to pursue perfection. A Bugatti doesn’t have “character”; it has precision engineering. A supermodel’s face doesn’t have “character”; it has mathematical harmony. “Character” is what you call the flaws you haven’t fixed yet. The goal isn’t to have a smile with character; it’s to have a smile that is perfect.
I’m just going to say it: If your dentist doesn’t talk to you about aesthetics, you need a new dentist.
The Mechanic vs. the Architect
My old family dentist was a great mechanic. He could fill a cavity and fix a chip. But he was just trying to keep the old car running. When I went to a top cosmetic dentist for a consultation, it was a different world. He wasn’t a mechanic; he was an architect. He talked about smile arcs, buccal corridors, and the golden ratio. He wasn’t just fixing problems; he was designing a masterpiece. If your dentist’s only concern is cavities, you’re getting B-level care. Your dentist should be as obsessed with the beauty of your smile as you are.