The smile of well-known U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has been the subject of ridicule by those who disagree with her political beliefs. Yes, there's even a Twitter account devoted to her teeth.
The dental jokes are something she has taken in stride, however. She mentioned in an interview in 2018 growing up with "jacked-up teeth," so she knew the cosmetic issues were there.
However, that was then, and this seems to be now.
Ocasio-Cortez shared in a viral Instagram post that she is getting braces to help with her smile esthetics. What's one of the biggest reasons she's waited until now for those braces? She can finally afford them, she said.
In an Instagram story posted by Ocasio-Cortez over the weekend, she shared her beliefs about dental health being overall health and the cost of obtaining a better smile.
"I had to GET ELECTED TO CONGRESS for me to afford dental treatment," Ocasio-Cortez wrote.
"The thing is, the most important thing about orthodontic treatment isn't about how you look (though that is the cherry on top). It's about your HEALTH," she continued. "Not having your bite lined up correctly can be painful and contribute to other health problems (which are also more expensive later on, not just for you but for our WHOLE SOCIETY). DENTAL HEALTHCARE IS HEALTHCARE.
"Everyone deserves this. Healthcare is a right. Medicare for All includes DENTAL, mental, & physical health. And even in a world where it doesn't cover some treatments, it still offsets costs to make them more accessible to everyone!"
You can see more of what Ocasio-Cortez wrote in this Twitter post. By the way, in the short video clip, she is jamming to Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow" in the background. The song choice isn't a coincidence. While discretion should certainly be used with the song's lyrics, Cardi B is talking about how it took her becoming a star (and earning a high income) to have the smile she always desired.
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