Look Ma! No cavities!

“Look Ma! No cavities!” is a humorous, celebratory catchphrase associated with mid-to-late 20th-century American advertising and popular culture around dental hygiene—especially the idea of a child proudly reporting a clean bill of health after a dentist visit. It riffs on the older stunt-cry “Look, Ma—no hands!” (from bicycling/acrobatics), substituting “cavities” to fit the dental context. The line circulated broadly as a joke and slogan-like quip rather than as a traceable literary utterance by a single identifiable speaker, which is why it is often credited to “Anonymous.”

The quote compresses a small narrative—childhood, parental approval, and a checkup—into a punchline. Its humor comes from the incongruity of treating “no cavities” like a daring feat worthy of public applause, echoing “Look, Ma—no hands!” It also reflects a culture of preventive health messaging: good habits (brushing, flossing, avoiding sugar) are framed as an achievement. Used ironically by adults, it can signal self-congratulation over minor victories or a playful claim to virtue, while still carrying the straightforward meaning of pride in being “problem-free.”