To think that adults are supposed to go to the dentist too?

Not everyone needs to see hygienist , I never have. It depends on how effective your tooth cleaning is.

Tartar (calculus) is just dental plaque that has been left undisturbed for at least 24 hours so eg if you cleaned really effectively at least once in 24 hours you would never need to see the hygienist.

Sorry I just don’t think that’s true. We pay privately for the dentist in London; it’s £27 for a checkup, about £13 for an x-ray (needed once every few years if no issues), and £60 for a hygienist appointment for a full clean. Obviously that’s if no work needs doing, but catching stuff early is the best option.

I don’t see how people can’t budget £120 a year-ish for two checkups and one hygienist appointment.

I’m the same! Some people are very fortunate with their dental health and unfortunately others are not.

I didn’t go to the Dentist for about 10 years (age 18 onwards) as I was travelling and working aboard. When I eventually did go to the dentist my teeth were fine. I have no fillings.

I’ve read that there is a certain type of bacteria that is very beneficial to your teeth. Ever since I was a teenager I always drink water after eating so the food can’t stay on my teeth. During Covid I didn’t see a dentist for 2 years and my teeth were fine when I went again.

My Dad always had good teeth so I think I took after him. He was also sceptical about using toothpaste! I do use a very small amount.

We go as a family every 6 months BUT it took 18 months of being on the waiting list for me and DH to get on the books - DC was only waiting for 3 months after we moved house. Couldn’t get to previous dentist after they also moved premises, 40 minutes away from their old location and over an hour away from our new place.
Dentistry in the UK is in crisis

That’s unusual. Is your dentist cleaning your teeth, surely a clean is always recommended no matter how well you brush.

Good teeth are a mix of genetics and a class marker, money. The schools offer the first free dental checkup when children are 12. It was 8 years old, by then a lot of damage is done to the back molar teeth especially now with the increase in sugar foods.

Thank you for explaining it. Cutting out snacks is definitely something I need to do.

No , apart from MIH , dentine genesis imperfecta etc , there is no such thing as weak teeth.

The immune system has nothing to do with tooth decay , it is the acid which is produced by bacteria feeding off the sugar and starchy food that is eaten or drunk that causes the decay. That acid takes an hour to be neutralised by your saliva , so if you have dry mouth that can affect the amount of decay you have.

So for most people keep the sugar/starchy food and drinks down to three times a day and you will get no decay.

Gum disease is slightly different , there are factors like smoking, diabetes , pregnancy which will make it much worse and for eg rapid onset periodontitis (gum disease) genetics can play a part. However the main treatment for all gum disease is effective home cleaning and most treatment has the aim of making this easier to achieve.

I am supposed to go every six months and in previous years I have gone regularly but we are really short of money atm and just can't afford to go. Started having nightmares, religious about my teeth, even more so since my Invisalign. I hate not being able to see my dentist.

He doesn’t I did check but his not old enough for free checks.

You have to be over 40.

I think your eye tests are free if you are at risk of glaucoma.

I think you got a nice optician. I use spec savers and certainly get charged for basic and the extras like blowing air in my eyes 😅

I was exactly the same till 35years old (wisdom teeth out though), my partner is 38 and still hasn’t ever had a cavity. Both diets definitely not low sugar! We just seem to be lucky

I’m or rather the world is lucky I don’t actually drive because eye tests despite my parents having glasses wasn’t really a thing we did apart from the one in primary school.

Since it deteriorates slowly it was only when dh asked me a sign post ahead and I said I couldn’t read it, it was like wow ok yeah I need to get my eyes checked. Suddenly bushes and trees had leafs again rather than being just bushy fluffy things. I just hadn’t noticed and a yearly check up had never been a thing on my radar.

Dh is supposed to get tested due to glcoma? But he doesn’t as he just sees it as an expense though he also has asthma and finds it bonkers he has to pay to breath yet a diabetic gets prescriptions for free another thing I think is bad.

I wonder what happened to the trips to the opticians and dentists we used to do as a “fun” day out at primary school apart from nhs dentistry being like hens teeth.

I have an NHS dentist (I’m in Scotland and things don’t seem quite as grim up here..) I am currently on a yearly recall for checkups as I’ve never needed any treatment over and above a basic scale and polish (other than orthodontics as a teenager).

Although maybe I’m a hypocrite as I went to the opticians for an eye test recently for the first time (I’m 32 🫣)

You're right about that, what I will say is that I booked in the summer and last winter to see the optician after some time of eye pain and he gave me a full test and I wasnt charged each time, Im not sure if that is standard, it was specsavers, I thought I would have to pay and would have no problem doing so, did all the internal eye photos and examination, diagnosed me with blepharitis or whatever its called and gave advice about my sinuses to go back to the GP with

Cleaning stops gum disease and the fluoride in the toothpaste protects the teeth a bit but the number one factor in tooth decay is the number of times a day you have something sugary or starchy to eat or drink. It’s not how much you have , it’s how often as each sip or bite attacks your teeth for an hour afterwards.

Yes my private dentist has recommended every year for me up to now as I generally have problem free teeth, a few things creeping in now so going to every 9m.

It is madness. Bad teeth can cause cardiac problems. Not to mention pain so you don't eat properly, maybe avoid people out of embarrassment etc. I remember a thread on here where OP was interviewing people for a job and she asked if she WBU for rejecting someone who had a tooth missing.

Eye sight is vital too. They can spot things like high blood pressure and signs of diabetes.

Most people I know do go for regular eye tests even without issues- every 2years is the recommendation I believe, I assumed that was the norm

Your enamel strength and reactions to bacteria/immunity are genetic and that influences the risk of decay and gum disease

It doesnt mean and I didnt say that there arent conditions which can be prevented and mitigated.

I haven’t been to the dentist in over 20 years. I’m not ‘poor’ but I simply can’t afford it.

I find it disgusting that teeth and eyes seem to be the things not actually nhs. Leg hurts doctors, bad cough doctors, bleeding out a&e. All free

Poor eye sight, hurting teeth pay up £££. Yet both the dentist and opticians can spot bigger problems.

My dentist for over 40 years went private.

No local NHS fee dentist.

Can't afford £120 the dentist quoted for monthly membership for the family.

Interestingly my private dentist has never recommended I see the hygienist at the surgery, she did recommend it for my sister so it’s obviously not always needed.

When I did keto my teeth felt clean, breath stank but my teeth felt clean from the morning to bedtime. when I ate carbs but a lot less and just 2 meals a day including starch, my teeth still felt 90% clean and my breath wasn't smelly. I'm now trying to stop my snacking habit 😔 as i need fillings and i think it must be my high sugar intake since my lovely hygienist always says im cleaning them well.