Lourdes Leon is following in mom Madonna’s footsteps, always looking hip in cutting-edge fashion.

Lourdes’ latest fashion statement, however, cannot be found in any boutique. Lourdes is flaunting good, old-fashioned metal braces!

Some celebrities can thank good genes for their dazzling smiles, but most need a little help. Many of them flaunt straight, white teeth thanks to cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as caps, bonds and porcelain veneers. But there are also those newsmakers who take a less glamorous approach to achieve the perfect bite.

If your kid is balking at the idea of orthodontics, remind him/her about some of these famous metal mouths (courtesy of ABC News):

• Gwen Stefani (1991) as the lead singer of No Doubt
• Prince Harry (1999)
• Tom Cruise and Nicholas Cage  (2002)
• Danny Glover (2006)
• Dakota Fanning (2007)
• American Idol winner Fantasia (2008)

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a charming, imperfect smile (look at Lourdes’ own mother!). Here are some famous folks with less-than-perfect teeth:

• David Letterman
• Hillary Clinton
• Jewel
• Kirsten Dunst
• Lauren Hutton
• Morgan Freeman

Julia Roberts. Farrah Fawcett. Denzel Washington. George Clooney. Which celebrity smile is your favorite?