A British teeth study has debunked the silly myth that those in the U.K. have worse dental hygiene than Americans.
Researchers from the United States and the United Kingdom chomped on data from the English Adult Dental Health Survey and the U.S. National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey to make their conclusions, which were published in the Christmas issue of the
British Medical Journal, according to The Guardian.
"There is a longstanding belief in the United States that the British have terrible teeth, much worse than U.S. citizens," the study said. "This view dates back at least 100 years, with toothpaste adverts extolling the virtues of American smiles. Contemporary examples of this belief in popular U.S. culture range from 'The Simpsons' to the Hollywood character Austin Powers and his repugnant smile."
The team reviewed data on thousands of people included in the two surveys, exploring the examples of missing teeth, adults' perceptions of their own oral health, and effects of poor teeth and daily life.
The study, titled "Austin Powers Bites Back," revealed that survey participants in the United States had significantly more missing teeth (7.31) than in England (6.97). Additionally, it found that more Americans are likely to suffer from poor dental health because of socioeconomic factors.
What's more, British citizens often receive dental care through the country's National Health Service while some Americans may be left out of receiving such care since the United States is more reliant on
dental insurance coverage, according to CNN.
"Contrary to popular belief, our study showed that the oral health of U.S. citizens is not better than the English,"
the British Medical Journal study said in its discussion section. "Indeed, our study showed a mixed picture, with Americans having significantly more missing teeth, the English reporting more oral impacts, and no differences in self-rated oral health between the two countries."
"Adults in the lowest socioeconomic position tended to have better oral health in England, while those at the top educational or income levels were generally better in the U.S. This was particularly clear for self-rated oral health," the study continued.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.