public school boy
Banned
For years the Americans have said that the British have bad teeth. I never really believed it but after looking for myself it seems to be the case. Why is this?
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Why do the British have bad teeth?
- Thread starter public school boy
- Start date
Kumquat
New member
- Mar 2, 2009
- 4,459
I find it hard to believe that they are worse than Americans teeth. The primary cause is sugar and they eat as much sugar if not more than us I'd have thought. I did see a report recently that said people in general here brush their teeth for less time than is recommended. Maybe that's why.
Mine are shocking... but my kids all have lovely straight pearly whites. It's a generational thing, I think. Fluoride in the water, better diet etc...
turienzo's lovechild
New member
- Oct 25, 2003
- 23,964
it's a massive stereotype that dates back centuries (i believe it's based on the state of the teeth of our navy people back in the day)
it's not really true these days
it's not really true these days
brightn'ove
cringe
as soon as all of their adult teeth come through they whack braces on the kids, no matter if they need them or not.
public school boy
Banned
- Thread starter
- #8
My teeth are in reasonable condition. When I was a child, Mother was insistent that we went to the dentist for check ups every six months. Tomorrow will be the first time for 3 years. I know that I need at least one filling. I do eat and drink too many sweet things but over all eat a healthy diet. It is also said that those with good teeth enjoy better health than those with bad teeth.
Nail and head. Many people got chucked out by their dentist when the new contracts came in if they refused to sign up to a Dental Insurance Plan. Since then many of those people haven't been able to find an NHS dentist or just haven't bothered. Even if you are lucky enough to get to an NHS dentist the charges are daft. So in short the British have bad teeth because they're crap at brushing, a government balls up and greed from dentists.
public school boy
Banned
- Thread starter
- #11
I will be taking out a dental plan policy because for me good teeth are important. If it means putting money aside and not spending it on something else it seems a sensible thing to do. I hope that parents would do this for their children.
An NHS dentist is free for children anyway.
It's £14 for me for a 5-10 minute appointment where he just checks them all and gives them a clean and scrape
Tubby Mondays
Well-known member
Its only free on the NHS if you are exempt from paying because you are a student, on certain benefits, over 65, a nursing mother etc. Other wise if you are an NHS patient you should be paying £17.50 for a check up and little bit of a clean, £48.00 for things like fillings or £209.00 for false teeth and crowns.
The Grockle
Formally Croydon Seagull
I hate to say it but I think the stereotype of us Brits having bad teeth is possibly true to an extent especially amongst the working classes. A guy in my pool team is 21 and at least half of his teeth have rotted away, even the front ones. I know quite a few others under the age of 30 with terrible teeth.
I’m no dentist but I put it down to fizzy drinks given to kids by the irresponsible parents. As a kid we had coke on a Sunday with a roast dinner and never on any other day, friends of mine always seemed to have nothing but coke to drink.
I also think the relatively high cost of dentists put people off, whereas in America I guess dental work would be covered under standard health insurance?
I’m no dentist but I put it down to fizzy drinks given to kids by the irresponsible parents. As a kid we had coke on a Sunday with a roast dinner and never on any other day, friends of mine always seemed to have nothing but coke to drink.
I also think the relatively high cost of dentists put people off, whereas in America I guess dental work would be covered under standard health insurance?
ifuhatepalacestandup
New member
one reason COST
SK1NT
Well-known member
I think times have changed. I msure this is a historial stereo type.
However the dentence is sooo expensive and i can't afford to pay £50 to sit in the chair for a couple of minutes for the dentence to say a few letter from the alphabet and then say... my teeth are fine and i can go...
However the dentence is sooo expensive and i can't afford to pay £50 to sit in the chair for a couple of minutes for the dentence to say a few letter from the alphabet and then say... my teeth are fine and i can go...
So 50 quid for a filling is quite steep then.
Here its 1 pound to go to the doctor or dentist, this seems cheap but people think it should be free. This means it stops old people from going to the doctor every day as if its a social club, but not too expensive that they will not go if they need to.
So with the dentist everyone can go and have a check up and fillings are not too expensive.
Saying that though, I need to have my front tooth replacing and reconstructed, and its the same price as in the UK, but they consider this to be cosmetic.
public school boy
Banned
- Thread starter
- #20
Put money aside for life's more important things i.e health matters!