I’m trying to get perspective on this particular beauty standard and how I want to approach it. Do people whiten their teeth where you live? Is it seen as expected to do so? Do you live in a city?

I have healthy teeth that have nevertheless seen a lot of tea and coffee. I have generally thought of this as similar to wrinkles, i.e. a natural thing bodies do that I don’t want to pay money to fix since it isn’t broken. I still think this. But I have been feeling lately like there might be more actual social stigma to my teeth being discolored. I am wondering if this is at all real? Has whitening teeth become an expected thing for all adults to do now? I thought I’d ask how other people feel and think about this and what the general norm is in your social circle.

Edit: thanks for the responses everybody.

  • Angry_Autist (he/him)
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    4 months ago

    Just use a peroxide toothpaste, 1) it’s a good idea in general, 2) it’ll whiten your teeth over time so no one notices and you don’t get that ‘high beam’ bright white that throws everyone off.

    Source: I used to smoke unfiltered cigarettes for years and my teeth look normal. Peroxide toothpaste, always have used it.

    • @cheese_greater
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      14 months ago

      Is it bad for them in any way? What brand do you use?

      • Angry_Autist (he/him)
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        24 months ago

        I’ve been using a peroxide toothpaste for nearly 30 years and the only problem I’ve really run into is that now non-peroxide toothpaste tastes funny to me.

        And I usually get Crest but in a pinch you can just dribble a little peroxide from a bottle (it’s ridiculously cheap) on any toothpaste before you brush.