Delta Dental of Idaho Blog

Unleash the power of your smile

  • Idaho
  • Oral Health
  • Dental Benefits
  • Recipes and Nutrition
  • Tooth Truths

Smile Statements Made at the Olympics

June 7, 2016 Delta Dental of Idaho

Smiles will be everywhere at the 2016 Summer Olympics!

Is your smile ready for another epic Summer Olympics? To amp up your excitement, we’re looking back to when grins grabbed the gold. Here are our favorite moments:

Ryan Lochte’s Grill

Jeah! This swimming stud stayed single during the 2012 Olympics but still managed to find the grill of his dreams. If you think dental work is expensive, check out the price tag on Ryan Lochte’s decorative dental grill: $25,000. It’s a good thing Lochte only sports his sparkly smile during special occasions. Prolonged use can trap food particles and bacteria around teeth and gums. Out of respect, the Olympic committee asked him not to wear it on the podium. Fortunately for Ryan, there were plenty of post-podium photo ops that let him flash that red, white and blue bling. Watch for Ryan’s new one in 2016—it’s made of black diamonds.

A Bite of Gold

The pose is a podium tradition: Olympians biting their gold as if it were gelt. Though chocolate coins would be a worthy way to taste victory, what’s the appeal of a mouthful of metal? No one knows for sure, but historical counterfeiting may play a role in the metal mystery. Coins used to contain precious metals, so money handlers would bite them to test their authenticity. Another explanation may be photogs’ obsession with the pose. The snapshot has become a Summer Olympics staple, and iconic shots are easier to sell.

Synchronized Smiling

Synchronized swimming is one of the more offbeat Olympic events. But this strenuous sport requires stamina, strength and lots of smiling. If you think it’s hard to smile when you’re having a bad day, imagine holding your breath, exerting an enormous amount of energy—all while smiling! And those smiles pay off positively in the judges’ scores.

This 2008 Olympian said it best: “Imagine doing a four-minute bike sprint while holding your breath in 15-second intervals. And we have to do it all with a smile.”

Olympians Save their Smiles

Since 2004, a team of dental professionals volunteers to give athletes gratis care. Surprisingly, traumatic care isn’t the most requested service. According to the clinic, at the London Olympics, nearly half of participants hadn’t had a dental exam in the last year. The clinic goes beyond cleanings too, providing mouthguards and on-site dentists during competition. The hope is that athletes return home as more than Olympians—but as oral health advocates.

What’s your favorite Olympic [s]milestone? Share yours below!

Oral Health

Subscribe to our weekly blog

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

deltadentalid.com
Shop for Dental Plans
(208) 489-3580
Email Delta Dental of Idaho

Posts from @deltadentalid

 

View this profile on Instagram

 

Delta Dental of Idaho (@deltadentalid) • Instagram photos and videos

About

Welcome to the Delta Dental of Idaho blog! Delta Dental of Idaho is the leading dental benefits carrier in the state, providing quality, affordable dental plans for both companies … read more

Categories

Search

Copyright Delta Dental of Idaho
Notice of Privacy Practices
Nondiscrimination Notice
COVID-19 Relief