How ‘British Teeth’ Sparked a Smile Revolution

But if perfect teeth are a symbol of status, the Royal Family has never adhered to it. Princess Anne, known for her no-nonsense approach to royal duty, has always kept her teeth exactly as they are – functional, natural, and far from a Hollywood glow-up. From King Charles III’s slightly crooked grin to the late Queen Elizabeth II’s smile, the royals are presumably au natural.

In the 1970s, long before Towie-esque veneers became the norm, David Bowie and Freddie Mercury were global icons with famously ‘quirky’ smiles. Mercury, with his signature overbite, enforced by four extra teeth that pushed his front layer forward. (He reportedly refused to fix them, fearing it might alter his ability to sing and once joked: ‘Rod Stewart, Elton John and I are going to start a band called Nose, Hair and Teeth.’)

And Bowie, with this pointed incisors. The star eventually opted for a Hollywood smile, debuting straight, white teeth by the early 2000s to many a fan’s dismay. “Bowie’s teeth were like everything else about him: different,” his dentist acknowledged in a 2015 interview with Dental Tribute.

Then came the ultimate cool girl of the ’90s: Kate Moss, who’s slightly uneven smile became a signature feature of her look. Around the same time, David Beckham and Hugh Grant emerged as global British heartthrobs, both of whom had charmingly imperfect smiles as they skyrocketed to fame on the field and screen respectively.

Kate Moss at the Danziger Gallery to launch ‘The Kate Moss Book,’ New York City, USA, September 11, 1995

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