UK teeth hygiene stereotype and flouridation

Vexr

Vexr

Vexr

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I'm aware the UK has a bad/comedic reputation regarding teeth and dental hygiene, and I'm wondering just how BS that is.

There's also the question of fluoridation, where unlike the US it's very hit and miss regarding the UK's water supply being fluoridated:

Areas where water fluoridation schemes are currently in place include parts of:

  • the West Midlands
  • the North East
  • the East Midlands
  • Eastern England
  • the North West
  • Yorkshire and Humber
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https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fluoride/

I lived for 3 years in Humberside over decade ago, but otherwise have not been in a fluoridated water zone. I brush 1-2x per day and have no fillings or dental hygiene problems to speak of.

So, what's going on and what's the real take on British dental hygiene on the world stage and fluoridation's effectiveness for the prevention of tooth decay?
 
I've not been since year 2000, as I moved out of area and can't seem to find one on the NHS. Probably average for a UK citizen tbh. My ISA has £4000 in it atm and I fear that going to a dentist now will just wipe that ISA out :p I've never had any tooth pain though.
 
I haven’t been to the dentist for about four years now. But not visiting the dentist doesn’t mean you have poor dental hygiene.

Most people only go the doctor when they have symptoms of an illness, why does it have to be different with dentists?
 
robfosters said:
I haven’t been to the dentist for about four years now. But not visiting the dentist doesn’t mean you have poor dental hygiene.

Most people only go the doctor when they have symptoms of an illness, why does it have to be different with dentists?
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Personally I agree. I don't think I've been to a Dentist since about 2011 (£20 for a scratching of teeth and to be told to floss more, awesome value it is not)

I've worked in public roles since and even been told I have nice white teeth/a smile. Maybe that complement is due to girls being awkward when attempting to initiate flirting, but I'll take it along with my absence of toothache and decay.

I recall one girl I dated in my teen years (who was starting to amass fillings) that, even though she brushed 4x per day etc, she was told that it boils down to the immune system of the individual. Some have immune systems that aggressively protect their teeth, and some don't. She was apparently the latter and I'm apparently the former.
 
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Isn't the stereotype partly down to the fact we don't tend to go for the whole "lets do unnecessary work to make the teeth look nicer, but will require a lifetime of high maintenance work to keep them in good shape after?" thing.

IE Americans often have routine cosmetic work on their teeth that makes them look much nicer than slightly wonky tea/coffee stained teeth, but in doing so they often then cause issues which require far more maintenance (both preventative and fixing it) later on. I know my teeth don't look great, but I've not had a filling in about 10+ years, and apart from an op to remove a spare tooth* when I was abut 12 never any major work.
Given how much I hate going to the dentist, I'd much rather teeth that didn't look hollywood white and straight, but were naturally sound and require minimal invasive work than something that required regular whitening/replacement of veneers etc.

This is also ignoring the issue that whilst Americans can have access to the best dental care in the world, a lot basically just hope they never get toothache because if they don't have medical insurance or can't pay the excess it's often too expensive (IIRC one of the charities that was originally set up to offer dental care to rural parts of the third world is now working very heavily in the US, and there is a town on the Mexican border which is basically all about catering to Americans needing dental care as it can be cheaper to drive across a state than get it in the US).


*Apparently I had two growing where one should have been stopping the correct one coming through.
 
I think I've read before that statistically Britain has excellent oral health, it makes sense being that we have the infrastructure and money to spend on it.

From what I understand the stereotype was largely constructed from a handfull of specific people as opposed to any observation of British society.
 
I'd rather have my natural slightly off-white teeth than some ridiculous looking chemically enhanced glow in the dark comedy teeth that the colonials seem to think is normal.

OII6E6u.png
 
Ive brushed once a day for 25 years, i have almost perfectly straight; off-white (not yellow) teeth, ive had one filling in my life... Last year had an x-ray at the dentist who told me that my teeth are in perfect condition, just a little bit of plaque build up from not replacing my toothbrush often enough.
Never had an abcess, never had any real issues with them... Perhaps im just lucky?
 
Vexr said:
Personally I agree. I don't think I've been to a Dentist since about 2011 (£20 for a scratching of teeth and to be told to floss more, awesome value it is not)
I've worked in public roles since and even been told I have nice white teeth/a smile. .
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Indeed it often depends on your oral hygiene and if you are susceptible to gum disease.
For the most part if you get cavities or not depends entirely on diet, and sugar frequencies during the day.
Brushing with fluoride helps, and indeed water fluoridation helps (but is such a toxic topic no one dares touch it now) studies demonstrated 40% drop in cavities in children in areas of water fluoridation.
Where I live could do with it, but we'll never ever have it, so I cba even discussing it.

For many people that £20 scaping at poor value as you call it, is the only way they'll retain teeth past 40.
Which is pretty damn good value, as the same people wouldn't be suitable for implants, and dentures for the most part are **** in comparison to actual natural teeth.

If you're susceptible you need good Oh and regular cleaning and to quit smoking and keep your diabetes in check, else its a sliding scale.
I'm in my forties, I've had my teeth cleaned three times in my life, I've virtually no tartar around them currently, and I've no family history of gum disease, don't smoke, haven't got diabetes.
I am an exceptional case. At least 40% of people out there need a 3-6 month descale with all the associated things mentioned above.

As for cavities, cut the sugar frequencies down and out, and there won't be a problem unless you're something anatomical that is causing food trapping.
 
Pawnless Endgame said:
I've not been since year 2000, as I moved out of area and can't seem to find one on the NHS. Probably average for a UK citizen tbh. My ISA has £4000 in it atm and I fear that going to a dentist now will just wipe that ISA out :p I've never had any tooth pain though.
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You still see the hygienist though?
 
I’d tend to agree with Werewolf’s comments about unnecessary treatments.

I’ve never been the best at dental appointments, but never had a problem with my teeth. I’d still go every so often and went to a private dentist once a year before moving over here. First time I go to the dentist here I get told I have two cavities that need filling and three wisdom teeth removing. Oh. And that’s $450 for a checkup and clean please!

I had the “cavities” done, but holding on to my wisdom teeth at the moment...

On the flip side, while my teeth aren’t awful they aren’t the straightest (despite having braces when younger) and aren’t a beautiful white, like most of the people I see here. It does make me think of the standard stereotype...
 
Vexr said:
I'm aware the UK has a bad/comedic reputation regarding teeth and dental hygiene, and I'm wondering just how BS that is.
Click to expand...

Its nothing to do with hygiene and everything to do with cosmetics. We don't go in for cosmetic dental work as a rule whereas other countries i.e. the US where this reputation comes from and I assume thats what you're referring to, they do.
 
Blackjack Davy said:
Its nothing to do with hygiene and everything to do with cosmetics. We don't go in for cosmetic dental work as a rule whereas other countries i.e. the US where this reputation comes from and I assume thats what you're referring to, they do.
Click to expand...

Exactly this. Parts of the US, like NYC and California, in particular has an obsession with (artificially) blindingly white teeth, which obviously require regular bleaching. This then trickles down to 'celebs' such as Rylan, and in turn this influences ordinary people to try and replicate.

Mine are more yellow than I'd like (coffee mostly) but I'm 40 and my teeth are pretty straight and filling-less...
 
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