The value of good teeth

2024-12-24 21:48:03 source: category:Invest

As a kid, Ryanne Jones' friend accidentally hit her in the mouth with a hammer, knocking out her two front teeth. Her parents never had enough money for the dental care needed to fix them, so Ryanne lived much of her adult life with a chipped and crooked smile.

Ryanne spent a while as a single mom working low-wage jobs, but she had higher aspirations: she interviewed dozens of times a year for higher-paying roles that she was more than qualified for. But she never landed any of them. And to her, it really seemed like the only thing standing between her and a better job was her rotting, brown front teeth.

Our physical appearances can communicate a lot about our financial status. There are some things, such as clothing, that we have more control over. But there are other things that we don't — and they can have serious long-term economic consequences.

This episode was originally run as part of Marketplace's This is Uncomfortable podcast.

Reported by: Reema Khrais

Edited by: Micaela Blei.

Produced by: Zoë Saunders, Peter Balonon-Rosen, Megan Detrie, Hayley Hershman and Daniel Martinez. The Planet Money version was produced by Alyssa Jeong Perry.

Mastered by: Charlton Thorp

Music: Wondery

Help support Planet Money and get bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.

Always free at these links: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, NPR One or anywhere you get podcasts.

Find more Planet Money: Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok our weekly Newsletter.

More:Invest

Recommend

Forget the bathroom. When renovating a home, a good roof is a no-brainer, experts say.

(Updates to correct typo)Looking to do some home renovations? Lead with the roof, experts say.A roof

An 8-Year-Old Stole Her Mom's Car for a Joyride to Target—Then Won Over the Internet

Nothing comes between a girl and her Target run. After all, an 8-year-old in Bedford, Ohio recently

Trump rolls out his family's new cryptocurrency business

Former president Donald Trump headlined an online event Monday unveiling a new cryptocurrency busine