The Smile as a Political Act: Health, Inequality, and Hope

This article explores the smile as both a political and symbolic act, reflecting the intersection of health, inequality, and human dignity. Inspired by Sorriso Brilhante by Sybelle Maria Calheiros Lins, it examines how dentistry can function as an instrument of social transformation and justice. By moving beyond aesthetics, the text presents the smile as an expression of belonging, care, and resistance in the face of inequality. Drawing from thinkers such as Paulo Freire, Leonardo Boff, and Paulo Capel Narvai, it argues that promoting oral health is also promoting citizenship — an ethical, pedagogical, and emancipatory gesture that reaffirms the right to exist fully and with dignity.