I can do better!" Smiling wryly, Parreno turned to Khondji, and nodded in approval.
You see, my son's mouthful of moist gums is still a better smile than the dreadful mess I sport, which is also thrown into stark relief by my wife's resolutely un-British gnashers: white and lovely and uniform and essentially the way they are meant to be.
I have brown skin and a prominent nose, but it's not as though anyone has ever stopped me in the street and shouted, "Hey, aren't you Bin Laden?" (And I think I have a better smile — not as creepy. At least my girlfriend says so).
When her little "feel better" smile came back, it just made my heart burst.
There are a few things that are beneficial for everybody: Breathing better, smiling more, and having a good strong inner core.
Stories like that inspired Tylenol to do this whole campaign because they were seeing all of these moms on social media talk about the "feel better" smile and start posting their pictures of their kids feeling better.
How could there be real technical improvements like bionic eyes and robotic arms that send email, but no cure for tooth decay, gum rot, or a better smile (without wearing years of hardware)?
Truthfully, that's far from the reality -- while I have done plenty of stars' and athletes' teeth, many of my patients are everyday people who are simply looking to have a better smile.
One parent of a child with TB/HIV recommended that "they should treat a child with affection, that's most important, treating them well, showing them that they will get better, smiling at them".
