The Smile Revolution

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In late eighteenth century France, western civilization discovered the art of the smile, marking a significant cultural shift. Prior to this, the "Old Regime of Teeth" in western Europe frowned upon smiling, as individuals accepted tooth loss with fatalism, often resulting in visually unappealing open mouths. Ancient rules discouraged expressing feelings through mouth opening, associating smiles with the impolite lower classes. However, in late eighteenth-century Paris, these conventions transformed, mirroring broader changes in emotional expression. This led to the rise of the modern open-mouthed smile, which showcased physical beauty and individual identity while revealing white teeth. This evolution was tied to new patterns of politeness, ideals of sensibility, and advancements in scientific dentistry. Although the French revolutionaries initially embraced smiling, the Reign of Terror soon suppressed this expression. It wasn't until the twentieth century that the white-tooth smile became an accepted form of self-presentation again. This engaging work of cultural history explores the interplay between art, literature, science, and dentistry, revealing the unique and untold story of a facial expression central to western civilization.