16th century Europe considered milky white skin to be fashionable, while in our current day people appreciate darker, tanned skin. In the country of Myanmar a long neck is regarded as beautiful and some of the women there will use rings to stretch their necks even further. In Bolivia, it is considered that an attractive way for girls to dress is in skirts with bright colors and a bowler hat (or bombing) perched on top of their heads. In America many people consider dental care to enhance attraction, jumping to purchase the latest teeth cleaning product or heading to the dentist’s chair for some cosmetic whitening. Each of us has methods or rituals that we follow because we feel more attractive and confident when we do so. Sometimes, however, it’s good to analyze our practices and make sure our beauty habits aren’t doing more harm than good. Below are some methods which were discontinued due to health concerns, and also some that are still continuing today.
Corsets created a slender silhouette but wreaked havoc on the body’s natural functions. Although now worn more for adornment than function, corsets, or “stays,” were popular from before the sixteenth century into the early twentieth century. In that time the shape and make of the corset changed as women (and sometimes men) desired their figures to better conform to the styles of their day. As the corset developed, wearers found they could draw the laces tighter and tighter, to achieve a smaller and more slender form. Usually worn under clothing during the day, a few people even wore them while sleeping at night, to ensure that their body held to the shape forced upon it by the corset. This constant pressure on the torso forced the bones of the ribcage and the organs underneath to adjust and reorganize, leading to an unnatural and unhealthy frame. Get an appointment today at RV Dental.
Feet binding consisted of breaking the bones in the foot to achieve a smaller foot. Because large feet were considered unattractive, girls in Asia began the practice of feet binding to force their feet to remain small and continued the practice from the tenth century all the way into the twentieth century. The process began when a girl was between 2 and 5 before her toes had time to fully form. The local foot binder would break the girl’s toes and the bridges of her feet, then bind the foot together, hopefully resulting in a foot that was between 3 and 4 inches. Although women were still able to walk, dance, and work with bound feet, they endured a lifetime of discomfort and reduced mobility, leading to the custom of foot binding finally being banned in 1949.
Tanning can create a “healthy glow,” but can also damage the body and cause skin cancer. In the present day, many men and women find sun-tanned skin to be attractive and flattering on both men and women. While many opt for lotion or spray-tan versions, a lot of people will head to the tanning salon, the beach, or their backyard to get a quick blast of rays. Even though a moderate amount of sun is good for producing vitamin D, overexposure to the sun’s UVB rays can be harmful to humans, causing damage to skin, eyes, and immune system and even perhaps causing skin cancer. Although fear of cancer shouldn’t send everyone running in a panic for indoors and nailing down the window blinds, care should be taken to always wear sunscreen.
Teeth filing leaves teeth exposed to pressure, bacteria, and disease. Though many cultural traditions have faded due to exposure to media and the merging of societies, some remote tribes still have their own, unaffected opinions regarding what makes people attractive. In Indonesia, the Mentawai tribe considers pointed teeth to become beautiful, so the girls of the tribe will often undergo a process where their teeth are chiseled away and filed down to points. The procedure is painful and the recovery uncomfortable, but the women consider it worth the result of their appearance is improved. Although respect and care should always be paid to the beliefs and standards of other cultures, it must be noted that chipping and filing down the enamel of the tooth exposes the dentin and nerves beneath, making teeth greatly susceptible to wear, infection, and infection.
Teeth bleaching can scrape away the protective layer of enamel. A growing trend throughout civilizations is the appreciation for health and the beauty that occurs as a result. As dental care and cleanliness have advanced, people have become more conscious of the mouth and regard white teeth as a sign of good hygiene, a factor that increases attractiveness. It is frequently forgotten though that the mere look of health does not actually mean that correct care is being taken, and this leads to a lot of people using dubious whitening methods on their teeth. Although there are safe procedures of teeth whitening, many over-the-counter products are dangerous, using abrasive and acidic ingredients to scour away the top layers of the tooth in order to attain whiteness. Obviously, a teeth bleaching product should be carefully reviewed before use, so as to make sure teeth aren’t damaged. Remember, once enamel is gone, it’s gone; the human body cannot replenish it.
Make sure that any attractiveness methods used are healthy and support the entire body ‘s wellness. Everyone has their go-to or must-have beauty procedures, and a few may consider harming the body to be worth the results of appearing more appealing. Everybody has their own reasons for feeling a sacrifice or two in adherence to their society’s standard of beauty is worthwhile. But remember that the body needs to be provided for and healthily maintained in order to function well. Being regarded as beautiful within one’s culture and according to a society’s criteria is only a little part of living a full life.