Why does virtually everyone in Great Britain have bad teeth or poor dental health? Noticed 5 yrs ago?

Question

Will a Brit please answer this?

I have been reading BBC news online and watching their cable news and tv shows for about 5 yrs now. I have noticed that at least 8 out of 10 people have horribly unbearable teeth. I know they have a free national health care plan, but I want to know the cultural, historical, practical and moral attitudes and actions towards having a set of healthy, even, clean, white and full teeth.

The NHS provides the majority of healthcare in England, including primary care, in-patient care, long-term healthcare, ophthalmology and dentistry. The National Health Service Act 1946 came into effect on 5 July 1948. Private health care has continued parallel to the NHS, paid for largely by private insurance, but it is used by less than 8% of the population.

Following the government's introduction of a new contract in April 2006, NHS dentistry is not as widely used with 900,000 fewer patients seeing an NHS dentist in 2008 and 300,000 losing their coverage each month

Answer 1

High Sugar diet and the lack of NHS Dentists. Dentist fees are very hight now.

Answer 2

i have lovely teeth thanks !

and i couldnt care less if other people don't want to bother looking after theres haha.

Answer 3

It is very difficult to get NHS dentistry at all, if you are not already registered, then you have no chance.

I was with one dentist for 15 years, then one day just got a letter saying - no more NHS treatments, my practice is now private.

As for practical and moral reasons.

Firstly, we all want great teeth, and despite what you may think, have great and cheap toothcare products.

Secondly, the NHS was the main dentistry in the past, but they use the cheapest materials, and absolutely NO cosmetic treatments at all, just essential work.

My teeth are not great I admit, but the reason is that I was given non-stop anti biotics at the age of 3 for tonsilitis (40 years ago). My dentist told me that the stuff I had destroyed all my enamel, and it is now well known, but they still prescribe it.

My enamel is like crazy paving, and I have lots of fillings, and crowns. Again, because it's the NHS, my fillings are silver, and my wisdom tooth crown is an ugly silver metal thing.

Oh, if only I could afford veneers - would be about £17,000.00 pounds for a full set.

Hope this helps clear things up.

Answer 4

Hold up...Stop...You obviously aint been watching enough...they've been cutting so many NHS dentists it's unbelievable and dentist are expensive!

The nearest NHS Dentist to me is 30miles away, Now I aint paying to travel 30 miles to see a dentist.

I'll just have to wait till I can afford it.

Answer 5

It's the culture, they generally don't care for that perfect pearly white smile that Americans aim for. Different for every country.

Answer 6

I am a Brit who was struck off the NHS dentist register at the age of 12 because I missed an appointment... 15 years later I still have no dentist and have a tooth-ache right now...

Answer 7

I think it might be caused by the number of trolls called Phyllis

Answer 8

I live in the Uk and haven't noticed this... My teeth are fine and i've visited the Dentist for as long as i can remember.  The NHS DO NOT provide free treatment unless you are on benefits, if people don't go to the dentist, then this may be why.

This is like saying why do Americans have big ears, long legs.. not everyone will have these!

Answer 9

Even NHS dentists aren't free. It'll cost me about £20,000 ($40,000) for the work I need doing on my teeth because I'm a private patient - there aren't any NHS dentists in my city. I would have to travel 50 miles, and even then I'd have to pay.

Most people here can't afford even basic treatment. Worst part is nearly 25% of my wage goes on tax but I don't see anything in return.

Answer 10

well my teeth are fine because i was lucky enough to find an nhs dental surgery, most surgeries are now private funded and very costly to most people

Answer 11

too few dentists. it costs too much coz most work isnt included on the nhs. i personally dont have a dentist because they booted me out when i was 10 for missing 2 appointments in a row and they charged for that

Answer 12

We moved on to higher things!

Answer 13

we never have good dentel (ever), we focused on other things...

Answer 14

Oh brother, don't ask this question you are about to start a war.

I'm just sayin'!!

Plenty of bad teeth in the US too!!

Buckle up!!! Here they come.

Answer 15

two points to make here

1. not alot of people get free dental care. the people that do get it are people on benefits, students and oaps. everyone else has to pay for it

2. i live in britain and i have to say in the last 6 month. (the period i can remember) i have seen 2 people with bad teeth.

its just poor publicaton thats all

Answer 16

Not to be a disturber, but it is the genetics. It is inbreeding. It is blueblood. It is NOT socialized medicine.

Look with an open mind, dig it.

Answer 17

they don't have good dental care.

Answer 18

Just TRY getting on a register with a NHS Dentist LOL.

No we don`t all have bad teeth - that is just a misguided stereotype held by Americans - we`re just not obsessed with dazzling people into blindness like the Yanks.

Answer 19

Brit here. I have good teeth n have always paid for the treatment. I watched a tv programme on a 1/2 ton man this evening, they were also saying obesity is a massive problem in the U.S.Do I generalize n think all peeps from the US are fat. No of course I dont.

Answer 20

You seem to be very narrow minded and are making a rather ignorant assumption by watching 'TV shows'.

"I have noticed that at least 8 out of 10 people have horribly unbearable teeth" - thats not virutally everyone, thats what you noticed. Please post some actual evidence or statistics to support your stupid claim.

NHS dentistry is not free, and copy and pasting Wikipedia hardly demonstrates your knowledge.

As far as I have noticed, oral health in the UK is about similar to the rest of the Western world due to decent education and availability of products. Many reports and studies show that dental health is multifactorial and hardly affected by country.

Though it is worth mentioning, America does have fluoridated water systems, which most regions of Britain don't.