Grinning gains

Some stereotypes are true: Lots of people in England have dental problems. The semi-socialist government covers most medical costs but charges fees for dental care. So, many people in England don't go to the dentist frequently, exchanging the prospect of straight teeth for low medical bills. Duly, then, at the American students' study abroad orientation session, the British director of the program told us that we had one infallible leg up in our attempt to get our own way in the town and university where we would be living. You guessed it: our big white American smiles. \nNot that everyone in America has the smile of a supermodel. In the United States, however, there is an expectation to seek out regular dental and orthodontic care from a very young age. The field of cosmetic dentistry in America is booming. American magazines like CIO and the Web site groovejob.com have published articles on the importance of smiling to enhance leadership skills and further career goals. In our culture, teeth are currency.\nAndrew Williams, director of Butler's Institute for Study Abroad office in London, told his American audience to smile in tough situations. If you're dealing with a rude official, he said, we are to swallow our American indignation and the temptation to throttle the other person and ... beam. Trust me, he said. It sounded easy enough. \nI had an opportunity to test the effectiveness of Williams' advice last week. After a long, exhausting day, I stopped for groceries. Hauling my food to the front of the store, I handed over my credit card. I didn't have any cash. The cashier scrutinized my sullen face and the back of my credit card. "I can't read the signature," she announced, calling over her manager. They both looked at me. I scowled at them. Adjusting their glasses, they peered down at the card. "We can't take this," the manager said. I stormed out of the store. \nAfter a relaxing afternoon and a dinner of hot soup, I had once again convinced myself that the outside world was not plotting my demise. Still without any cash in hand, I went for a walk with an equally destitute friend. We ran across an ice cream shop. I said I would pay with credit. I edged my credit card between the two massive chocolate ice cream cones towards the cashier. "We don't take credit cards." Oh, no. I turned to my friend; He shook his head. I closed my eyes, took a breath and smiled. He gave us the ice cream. \nI came back the next day and paid for the sweet treats we had enjoyed the night before, still marveling at the largesse inspired by a simple smile. I know that the ice cream shop worker had been a generous man before I smiled at him. Also, it's not necessary for a smile to be particularly straight or white to work its magic. A grin is a universal, irresistible gesture toward complicity. But some stereotypes are true. A straight smile certainly didn't hurt.