NO DISRESPECT INTENDED!!! I was married to a Brit so I am obviously not putting them down. I was wondering because my ex-husband does have VERY bad teeth though he takes good care of them as far as brushing and flossing. Now our son has the same discoloration and I am wondering if this is a deficiancy or if there is some truth to this and it could be hereditary. He is 8 and his teeth are turning yellow and look a little thin though he recently visited the dentist and brushes well twice a day. His hair is very thick and lusterous though.
2007-03-21 06:27:09 · 13 answers · asked by Jenny 1 in Health ➔ Dental
Well, you do know the British invented the Toothbrush.
Why do you think they called it a Toothbrush?
When, if it had been invented in America, we would have called it a Teeth Brush !!!!!!
2007-03-21 06:35:00 · answer #1 · answered by jeeper_peeper321 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A lot of older Brits have bad teeth because of poor nutrition during the war when food was severly rationed, diet in general was poor and affected people's health. My mother didn't know what an orange or banana was until 1948!! Granted, not everyone suffered but a lot of people were affected. My mother lost all her teeth at the age of 21 and had to have dentures because of the lack of vitamins when she was growing up. My father on the other hand was lucky and has perfect teeth. I also suffered from the war time diet in that my mother was pregnant with me while food was rationed, even though she got extra rations as all pregnant women did back then. Living on 4 ounces of meat a week per person and other shortages affected a lot of people. My teeth were also horrible and despite regular dental visits and lots of treatment I eventually lost all my teeth at the age of 52. On the other hand, my younger sisters and brother all have lovely teeth - all their own! Add to this the poor health care system in UK back in the 30's and 40's and it's a wonder all of UK doesn't have dentures. Things are much improved now though, but the "mud sticks" as it were.So many GI's were stationed in UK during the war and obviously brought back the "bad-teeth Brits" thing and it stuck. Most people in UK go to the dentist as regularly as US folks. Some Brits (like some Americans) never go to the dentist (YUK) and as a result do have horrible teeth.
I would hazard a guess that percentage wise there are just as many Americans with bad teeth as there are Brits, just the old stories about us from 60 years ago have become "urban legend"
I certainly don't think that all Americans have perfect bright white teeth, despite what Hollywood and the Osmonds would have us believe. I personally know 10 Americans all of whom make very good salaries and have excellent health benefits (so they tell me), only 2 of them have lovely smiles, the others either have yellowed teeth, visible cavities or very crooked teeth. I'm not judging anybody, just trying to explain.
2007-03-21 18:22:18 · answer #2 · answered by Sandtone 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the time thin teeth can be a concern for lack of nutrition or a tenancy to have frail bones and teeth. The discoloration could be from foods he's eating or stuff he's drinking.
Most Brits don't mind having the teeth God gave them and don't usually spring for braces or bleaching kits as much as Americans do. BTW, I'm American, LOL. If Americans as a whole didn't put so much effort into cosmetic dentistry I'm sure our teeth would look very much like British teeth.
2007-03-21 06:32:58 · answer #3 · answered by Miss Informed 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My husband (who is a Brit) has very nice teeth. He goes to the dentist regularly as does his family (which is covered by the NHS). But yes, I have noticed that some Brits have very bad teeth. Don't understand why though.
2007-03-21 06:39:07 · answer #4 · answered by Emily 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am british and work in the dental world..
british people do have **** teeth and its because there are punk **** about brushing them, ok not all true,
but no we dont all have braces like u guys, and us english people always say how lovely ure guys teeth are..
we are just a lazy nation where most people get there dental care for free, and we still have silver amagam filling can u believe that in this day and age.. ¨
terrible..
ps english people are lazy at brushing there teeth aswell
2007-03-21 08:24:50 · answer #5 · answered by theresa d 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is somewhat true, it is just one of the things that go along with being a brit I think and I am a replanted one...so again, as with you no disrespect, you know it is like when you look at most african americans they have the nicest teeth, always straight and bright white....maybe that is why when people are bi-racial they are so friggen good looking, the get the best of all the features......!!!
2007-03-21 06:32:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
They have good teeth. Just not usually straight. That's because they have dental care and not orthodontic care paid for by the National Health Insuarance program. It is like getting plastic surgery here. It's just for asthetics and they don't think that it is something that tax dollars should pay for when it does not affect their health.
2007-03-21 06:39:54 · answer #7 · answered by Eisbär 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
im british my husband is american i have lived in the usa 15 months i have beautiful straight white teeth my husbands teeth are a mess i have seen more bad teeth in the usa than i have ever seen in the uk so the answer to your question is no my 13yr old daughter also has fantastic teeth
2007-03-21 06:37:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
British have bad teeth because they have nationalized health care but not dental.
2007-03-21 06:30:23 · answer #9 · answered by Wyleeguy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ooh! I know this one!
Britain doesn't put fluoride in their water, which is a great fighter of tooth decay. America has it in just about all it's major water supplies.
2007-03-21 06:31:12 · answer #10 · answered by Melody L 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋