Why do people think all British people have bad teeth and drink tea all the time ect.?

Question

Because i am British and i have very good teeth and i hate tea!

Plus apparently we have a posh language, and weird sayings but thats just our country.

We say that about other countries so i guess we give as good as we get but i just hate it when i talk to people and they have that stereotype.

Oh i am just having a rant here. =D

Answer 1

Actually, back in previous centuries say the 16th? people hadn't gotten the hang of how to clean their teeth yet and didn't even know that they had to on a daily basis so while the rich used vinegar as mouthwash and got rid of some bacteria, the teeth of the poor suffered due to ignorance and lack of money. There is also the fact that tea is really bad for teeth as it yellows them so that contributed to their deterioration and fed this particular stereotype. It's pretty much the same as bathing before they invented soap ^ ^''. Oh, and also, tea is a well-known British ritual among civilized society so it was quiet common to invite or be invited for tea to a friend's or aquaintance's house rather than to dinner.

Answer 2

Well...

Apparently, people from Britain/England/UK and the like tend to have quite bad teeth because hundreds of years ago there was a lot of inbreeding in that area of the world, and therefore many of the people have frigged up teeth.

Answer 3

Well, I know that ALL British people aren't the same in their preferences, and I'm sure most people know that's not true, also.  That's just the stereotype that's out there.  Also, I think the accent is thought of as posh (as far as Americans are concerned) because you guys still have nobility in your country, and that's what we focus on when we think of Britain (because it's different).  Every country and group has some sort of stereotype out about them, and by definition, no sterotype can possibly fit every member of the group to which it pertains.

Answer 4

Check up on your own British history and you will see why. The tea should be very obvious...

Answer 5

You don't have a posh language, a small percentage of you have a posh accent.  Very different.

The midwest, south, east and west coasts of the USA have local colloquialisms, regionalisms do not "weird sayings" make.

England does not put fluoride in its water, so tooth rot and discoloration are prevalent, and orthodontics are not as widely used, so the teeth aren't as attractive. As long as they don't hurt and chew fine, who cares?

And Brits have tea time every day, making it a cultural reality, not a stereotype.  

Educate yourself, stop and think before you type and you won't feel the need to rant.

Answer 6

I don't think that about British people at all. :D And i like you language and accent. B/c most of us americans either have a southern accent or northern. I don't really have an accent. And I think southern words like ain't and y'all are just horrible and gives the south an ignorant name.

I like Britains. XD I have never thought that about them in my life and who ever does must be quite ignorant.

=D

Answer 7

Amy I think the British that come on here and badmouth other countries get the "bad teeth" comments.  I have seen "stupid yank" written on here too many times from the British.  It's uncalled for and I see that happen a lot more than references to tea and bad teeth.

Answer 8

Probably for the same reason that people think all American people are 800 pounds and can't see anything past the end of their nose.  Welcome to the wonderful world of stereotyping!

Answer 9

Stereotypes:

British=bad teeth, tea

Asians=drive badly, rice, slanted eyes, sing-song voice

Black=lazy

Mexicans=breeding machine, illiterate

Americans=arrogant, self-centered, rude

...more..

of course, all wrong

Answer 10

I've never thought that.  To tell the truth, when I think of tea, I think of the Asian culture.

Answer 11

I understand about the tea, because in movies, they always have British aristocrats having "tea time" and such. I don't really get what the bad teeth thing comes from. I've never seen an British people with particularly bad teeth. :/

Answer 12

Seriously, everyone stereotypes.  

Of course a percentage of Brits have good teeth; they have dentistry just like in other countries.  Of course not all Brits drink tea, but you must admit a large quantity of the Brits do.  Go to a British hotel, you get tea bags and instant coffee (ewwwww),  as an American traveler who likes my coffee, instant just doesn't cut it.

When  you hear I'm from Texas, what's your automatic response?