Perfect Teeth -Vanity or Necessity?

if you're concerned about your looks, then it's for something good and you have to fix it, but if you can live without your messed-up teeth fixed, then it is not a necessity. my teeth is really important part of your body so i would consider it a necessity and i would get if fixed as soon as possible. i don't really care what people will tell me about fixing my teeth. it is my opinion and nobody can say anything about that because it is choice.

It is nice to have a pearly white smile. It is vanity and those who dont have a perfect teeth.. they feel insecure about themselves. thats why they spend a lot of their earned money just to have it fixed.

I think it is more a necessity than a vanity. Everyone wants to look good but is that the same as vain? Say, you have a decent looking face but you want to go for plastic surgery so that you will end up looking like your favorite actor/actress - now that is vain. As for teeth, there is either perfect or "bad". There isn't really any in between. And most people do not have perfect teeth unfortunately - if only all parents know what good dental habits are and instill them in their children when young! I think someone with perfect teeth will have more confidence and being confident is very important. It is a necessity and certainly not a vanity. If anyone can afford it, I think he/she should go ahead and do what he/she deems necessary. Cheers!

You have to do this for you - if it makes you happy. I've noticed that most of the time people are happy with the way they look etc until someone points it out. And you're right, there are ways of saying things without hurting that person's feelings or making them feel bad about themselves. You gain respect from people because of your personality not your teeth! Little imperfections only makes us human - no one is perfect.

just leave them the way they are and brush them more and floss and visit the dentist and then he wont say anything

i had braces for two years but just recently my upper brace was taken off and replaced by retainer.. still had my lower brace.. its a very long process.. but its worth it.. =)

Well to me, straight teeth is a necessity. I gotta have him, that is a must for me when I am looking for a girlfriend. But others are not so shallow like me. I also have straight teeth and white teeth and I like them. For ones self they might not care, for them it is vanity or necessity. I already told you that for me it is a must, straight teeth, white teeth, and good smelling breath. I gotta have that. But if that doesn't matter to you then what is the point? Just do what you want too. They are not a necessity to someone who doesn't need them, obviously. And peole respect those who respect those around them too, it has nothing to do with teeth.

Perfect teeth are very essential for evryone.The reason is more out of nessecity than vanity.Healthy teeth are needed to keep germs away and for chewing food as well as a good healthy denture add to the looks and makes a person look beautiful.

You sound like my daughter. She is absolutely beautiful. Her teeth are not perfectly straight but they are perfectly healthy and she has the prettiest smile. She is so self-concious. Her insurance will not cover braces as it would be a cosmetic procedure. In other words, it isn't bad enough to affect her bite or her gums. So many people don't have "perfect" straight teeth. Don't worry so about your boyfriends comments. Look at some of the people walking around with horrible teeth and consider yourself lucky. Your boyfriend didn't seem too bothered by your smile when he was attracted to you and people tell you it is beautiful so believe it. You are worrying too much, I'm thinking.

Hi rowansnow, I don't think it's vanity, but I don't believe it should bother you that much. Good healthy teeth are very important, and if getting them straightened will help you feel better about yourself, go for it, but it has to be your choice. Blessings.

If your teeth aren't interfering with eating or digestion and you don't want them "fixed", don't do it. There's nothing wrong with having less than perfect teeth and if yours are healthy that's all that counts. Your boyfriend should accept you as you are or go find a girl with "perfect" teeth. My dentist wanted to "fix" my teeth because my pointy incisors are right next to my front teeth, where most people have a regular tooth. I declined. I like being different, it's something not many people have and the way God made me. And someday, you're going to find a man who will love your teeth and think they're cute. That's the one to keep!

Function-wise, having a teeth alignment like yours won't make any difference on how you chew and cut your food. Some may say that perfect alignment of teeth is just for vanity.But in my honest opinion, when the self-confidence and self-esteem of a person is already affected, having it corrected is already a necessity. Impaired of decreased level of self-confidence and self-esteem can actually affect the whole sense of well-being of a person, psychologically, emotionally, and even physically. Agree? If it does not really bother you and does not really affect you, then having it corrected is just for vanity. ^_^

i think you're just more concerned about your teeth being not straight because it's your boyfriend who critized it in the first place. i don't think it's a necessity. i mean, what is important is that you have healthy teeth. but then if you're willing to spend that amount, then it'll be not a problem. though sa for me, i'd rather spend the money for a vacation.Ü

I had a big decision when I was a young teenager; I have sucked my thumb for most of my life and therefore my bottom jaw has actually receeded slightly. I was offered surgery which involved breaking my jaw in no less than eight different places, and would have needed a programme of two years until it ewas re-aligned. I declined the offer! It's not hugely noticable, but what's more important, once I faced the reality of what I would need to put it right, I realised it suddenly did not matter to me so much. I am glad I didn't have to go through the trauma of the operations and recovery, but had my confidence been greatly affected my the appearance then I would have gone through with it, and it would have been worth it. I think if you're doing something to help your confidemnce and it's something that has always bothered you, then you have to weight up the pros and cons of getting it sorted, and deciding for yourself whether it really is that important to you. And, by the way, disregard what your boyfriend said to you, it's what you feel that counts. Have a great day.

Well, I got my upper set of teeth straightened when I was younger because my mom said one of the tooth was misaligned... My lower set were left in a not-so-perfect alignment. I think it's more of vanity since if it doesn't affect your speech or eating habits, then why perfectly align them?! They'll probably fall out by the time you're 60 anyway. lol. As long as you keep them clean, I don't think it's a necessity to endure painful months on braces. Besides, the little imperfections in us are the things that give us more character.