Some may say that BTS can be considered a worldwide treasure we must protect at all costs and if at this point in time you don’t know who or what we are talking about, there’s a high chance you’re either from another planet or live under a rock, because they are relevant even in topics such as dental health awareness.
The thing is that BTS (or The Bangtan Boys, aka Bulletproof Boy Scouts) have been changing the game when it comes to music. This Korean boyband has broken records from left to right on different music and video platforms, setting a precedent for new Korean music groups. Although they’ve been doing quite an amazing job at raising awareness for different mental health and social issues, as a dentist, we want to talk about a way they might be contributing to dental health. So let’s dive into why BTS’ teeth could be helping many to face their dental health issues without even knowing it.
Defining the Problem of Dental Health Awareness:
Many teenagers and young adults do not visit the dentist as frequently as they should, which happens for multiple reasons. As children, our parents most certainly took us to the dentist, doctor, and other appointments. They were pretty much in charge of setting everything up, so you didn’t have to worry about anything. However, this is something that many young adults find difficult to adjust to. Even calling to order a pizza can be a challenge for them.
After college, you’re responsible for making those appointments yourself, and it can be somewhat scary. Many young people get anxious and avoid dealing with this stuff and just carry on with their problems. Among other reasons could be socio-economical conditions that don’t allow them to afford proper dental care.
This eventually evolves into bad dental health, which then results in mental health issues. An unhealthy smile can make you feel insecure and stop you from trying things you like. Meeting new people, keeping a high-quality lifestyle, and feeling confident turn into a challenge. According to the CDC, caries affects 13.2% of children aged 5 to 19. What does this mean? Most BTS fans are also fairly young, according to a survey conducted by fans who took the time and effort to collect data from over 400,000 people. To be precise, 50.31% were under 18 years of age, and 42.59% were aged 18 to 19 years old, which goes to show that their followers are also within the age gaps of people who struggle with caries and bad oral health.
How Are BTS Teeth Helping Spread Dental Health Awareness?
Of course, we’re not implying that all ARMYS (BTS’s fandom’s name) have bad oral health, but rather that a good amount of them could be struggling with some form of dental issue. Recently, Jimin, one of the members, went live to talk to his fans to catch up. There, he mentioned the dental dilemma he found himself in.
In this live broadcast, which had over 3 million views, the singer mentions how he has been struggling with his crooked front tooth. Since it’s a feature of his that fans have grown to love, Jimin wasn’t sure if he should tell them the news or not. “I’m thinking about getting braces.” He said. He pointed at his front tooth and explained, “You see this tooth here? About half of it is fake.” He then explained that he keeps hitting it and breaking it almost every time he uses the microphone. He also noticed that the tooth seemed to be moving more and more, causing his other teeth to shift as well. Jimin was thinking about getting braces to fix it once and for all.
So how was this helpful? You may wonder. Well, for celebrities, it’s already hard to admit any flaw since they must appear perfect to the public all the time. Otherwise, they are hit with tons of judgment. Even now, there are thousands of celebrities with veneers and even dental implants that you probably don’t know about. Still, you look at them and compare yourself, wishing to have been born with such a perfect smile. But the reality is far from that.
When Jimin, a global pop star, went live to millions of viewers and talked so casually and honestly about his dental issues, it’s helpful to break down the unreachable beauty standards celebrities got us so used to. Plus, it might have also encouraged young people to be mindful of their smiles as well.
If someone with crooked teeth or chips saw him and was able to relate, there’s a high chance they could consider getting braces or other treatments to improve their teeth. Taking care of dental issues at an early age it’s crucial to stop them from getting worse in the future. Treating caries and doing dental check-ups are vital for our teeth.
Here are some of the risks of poor oral health:
- Gum disease
- Cavities
- Heart disease
- Jawbone loss
- Tooth loss
Prevention will save a lot of pain and money for your future self. It would help if you acquired favorable dental health habits at a young age.
What Dental Treatments Have BTS Members Gotten?
Some of these pop group members have also been very open about their dental work, so what dental procedures have they gotten? And what are they for? Keep on reading to learn more:
Taehyung, Namjoon, and Yoongi – Wisdom tooth extractions
You’ll probably need to have wisdom teeth pulled if they don’t have enough room to grow. A wisdom tooth can cause discomfort or infections. Even if the teeth are not bothering you, most dentists still recommend getting a wisdom tooth extraction to avoid future complications. Taehyung, Namjoon, and Yoongi have been very open about getting their wisdom teeth extracted and even shared how nervous they were about it.
Jimin and his Composite Resin Bonding
Dental bonding, commonly known as composite resin bonding, is a treatment you can get to change or complement the shape of your teeth. It is a popular choice for people who want to improve the appearance of their smile or who have broken, chipped teeth. It’s a painless, affordable, non-invasive procedure, and it’s most likely the way Jimin keeps fixing his tooth when he breaks it with the microphone.
J-Hope Talks about Braces
Braces are a great solution to treat crowding, crooked teeth, and out-of-alignment teeth. Braces gradually straighten and align your teeth as you wear them. When J-Hope didn’t even debut yet, he got a braces treatment to align his smile and be ready for his new idol life.
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