to wonder why people don't worry about black stubby teeth?

[khaliwali]

I have just watched an episode of Jeremy Kyle for the first time in years. I am not trying to make fun of, or judge people who may be on low income/benefits and those who may have a drink problem, please don't think I am. Quite rightly, as far as I know, in the UK dental treatment is still free to people who can't afford to pay. On this particular show, all of the people under 40 had either teeth missing or blackened rotten front teeth. I wonder why more isn't done to promote dental health, surely gum disease and all of it's related diseases are expensive for the NHS to treat and in 2011, completely unnecessary.
As I said, I am not slating the people on this show although I do think that they are being exploited but that it another story.

Surely it must be very painful to have a tooth rot away? Far less pain (none really apart from the injection) than going to the dentist.

Blimey! I don't think I've ever seen anyone with actually black stumpy teeth apart from the lead singer of the Pogues. I must watch Mr Kyle's show some time - I seem to be missing a lot.

My in-laws teeth are the same, they don't even have tooth brushes in their bathroom.

My parents otoh still have most of their own teeth, as do my grandparents.

I work in a nursing home and some people have amazing teeth for their age but it's really rare.. most of them have NO teeth and haven't done since their twenties . I'd love to know why but i'd be rude to ask.

stupefy - DH's grandad had no teeth. He got them taken out in his 20s when he joined the merchant navy to save trouble not being able to get to a dentist while at sea So he had dentures most of his adult life. It wasn't unusual according to him. He would be 100 or thereabouts if he was still alove.

Eeek Imagine having al your teeth taken out..

My grandad had all his teeth taken out in his 20s (70 odd yrs ago) due to pain in his gums. The dentist whipped out all his teeth but he was still plagued by pains in his gums until the day he died. TBH I can see why some people have a phobia about dentist.

All the people I've know with bad teeth have turned out to have a phobia of going to the dentists.

But then the people who go on JK tend to just put their hair up in a pony tail, rather than washing it, and throw on a pair of jogging bottoms.

I can only conclude that some people struggle so much with day to day things like getting out of bed/getting their DC to school and organising meals (let alone having enough money to buy food) that things that come naturally to most of us are just to much of an effort for them.

I reckon appearing on JK is a MASSIVE life time achievement thing for these people. (Why else do it?)

stupefy
most of them have NO teeth and haven't done since their twenties

May depend how old they were when NHS dentistry came in - alot of people ended up having the teeth removed then and given dentures.

Smoking, poor diet and apparently not realising you are take DC before they start school round here all contribute.

First NHS dentists we found was awful - everyone said we were lucky to find them and that what dental care was. The practise had it NHS funding taken away 6 months after we left though they got in back later. Never had such a crap cursor look at my teeth every before - quick glance missing several obvious things - but everyone round here thought it fine .

Had to write to every dentist in the area we could get to - to find one with NHS places for all of us. They are bloody good though. Did take some effort though.

My friend just had all her teeth taken out. She was in the "fear" category,and her mouthful of black teeth so upset her,and me,she is a stunning looking lady.
So she took the plunge....and now says it was the best decision she ever made....after kicking out that twat of a fella of hers,obviously

There was a theory in the 20s/30s that teeth problems caused cancer, heart problems and mental illness - so they would take them all out just in case

I was given an antibiotic as a child (Tetracycline) that must never be given to children before their adult teeth come through but wasn't widely known about at the time. As a result all my teeth grew in brown and stubby. After a miserable adolescence because of it, then dental phobia as an adult, I eventually found an NHS dentist (admittedly bent and was closed down within a year) who gave me a complete set of front veneers for free!

What a topical and timely thread, when we are looking at further privatisation of the NHS.

The first 3 posts answered the question well. Also, because so many local dentists converted to private practise, people often have to travel much further for treatment.

Add the rising cost of bus fares and the lower availability of buses etc, and it becomes unavailable to some.

My husband had an NHS dentist, they cancelled two appointments in a row and then struck him off for missing appointments! I just think it is sad that there is such disparity between dental and healthcare. Like I said, I can afford a dentist, albeit that at 35 have never had a filling but luckily when I was a student you could still walk into any dentist and get a check up for free. Going off the subject a bit, I have a friend who is on benefits, heavy drinker, smoker and suffers with depression. She was given a "prescription" for free local gym membership. At the time I was a bit pissed off seeing as I was paying a huge monthly fee but it has totally changed her. She started going to the gym instead of back to bed after dropping kids at school, lost weight and started taking care of herself. I just wish that all people could get this kind of help when they need it, that is a true welfare state.

NB I am not saying I or anyone else has the right to tell others how to live.

I did wonder if this poor soul had put fake teeth in.

They really should be prioritising NHS dental care, I recently got kicked off my dentist's books as he is no longer taking on sny NHS work. I was lucky enough to sign on with a new one, but I know this really isn't the case in some parts of the country. It's not right.

The reason that many elderly people lost their teeth so young is mainly down to medication that they were given as babies, which rotted their adult teeth before they came through.

My mother had to have all her teeth taken out and false teeth before she was 25. She was slim, didnt drink or smoke, but had been seriously ill with bronchial pneumonia as a child. The medicine ruined her teeth.

I talked to one woman once and I could not take my eyes off her teeth.
Totally rotten, black and most were missing and misaligned and she was only about 30yrs old

There was a theory in the 20s/30s that teeth problems caused cancer, heart problems and mental illness - so they would take them all out just in case

There is possibly an element of truth in that, because rotten teeth can certainly add to heart disease.

At 23 years old, I had a tooth took out, I was on NHS at the time as had maternity exemption, if you are NHS they dont try to save teeth, just rip them out.

When I was a kid the dentist used to come to our village school 3 times a year with a caravan. But then we also had a nit nurse.

I've seen children have a full clearance at 5, which leads to all sorts of issues with their adult teeth coming through.
They need to bring back the school dentists asap.

MonsterBookOfTysons - very true, my DD had an issue with her tooth, NHS wanted it whipped out under a general, private practice was prepared to cap it for £250. It alters the positioning of adult teeth coming through, would have made it hard for her to eat and speak, all sorts of implications.

I love my current dentist, he gives me drugs so I don't care how much it hurts. :o (gas and air mmmmmmm)

Yes Squeaky I have read that there is a correlation between gum disease and heart disease. Though I have taken the floss every day route rather than the get all my teeth taken out just in case route!