Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bad teeth

55 replies

Anon778833 · 08/11/2021 08:32

A male friend of mine in his early 30s has horribly uneven teeth. Not just a little uneven - so bad that they are all brown where he can't clean them properly.

He wonders why he can't find a girlfriend. I don't understand why he wouldn't get his teeth straightened. He has loads of money so it's not because he can't afford it. I have suggested to him that getting them fixed could help to which he replied 'oh no I'm not paying for that'.

I am well aware that I will possibly get flamed for this but AIBU to think that straight teeth are very important in life? I'm from an age group when we all had NHS braces at school. There were very few of us who didnt have them.

OP posts:
Ifailed · 08/11/2021 08:37

His teeth to do with as he wishes.

girlmom21 · 08/11/2021 08:41

We weren't given braces because we needed them. We were given braces because of the funding.
My teeth are worse now than they were before braces.

If they're discoloured because he can't brush them because they're not straight I don't understand how you can see the bits the brush can't reach.

RosiePosieDozy · 08/11/2021 08:44

You have suggested to him that his teeth might be stopping him from getting a girlfriend. It's his choice if he does anything about it.

I know it's probably annoying for you to listen to him talking about how he wants a girlfriend when you believe it's his teeth that's stopping him. But some women aren't bothered about teeth. I definitely think his bad teeth aren't helping but I'm sure he will find someone as he is.

Yusanaim · 08/11/2021 08:45

Surely the dentist scrapes off the brown bits, mine does.

Merryoldgoat · 08/11/2021 08:46

I have extremely crowded teeth which are unsightly, there is no doubt about that.

However it is perfectly possible to keep them clean - mine have no plaque, no brown bits and all I do is brush properly with an electric toothbrush.

If he’s a good friend then tell him to get his teeth cleaned at the hygienist as a bare minimum. I could tell my good friends this.

Itsnotover · 08/11/2021 08:47

@Ifailed

His teeth to do with as he wishes.

Yes but he's always complaining about not having a gf.

It may sound shallow but a lot of people are put off by bad teeth. And his are very bad, not just a bit uneven.

Itsnotover · 08/11/2021 08:48

If he’s a good friend then tell him to get his teeth cleaned at the hygienist as a bare minimum. I could tell my good friends this.

That's a good idea. He's so right I don't think he will though!

Itsnotover · 08/11/2021 08:49

Tight not right

Cheerbear23 · 08/11/2021 08:50

That’s his business, he can work out if it’s an issue himself and do something about it. You wont get thanked for pointing it out to him.

Moonshine11 · 08/11/2021 08:51

It's really judgemental tbh op.
I wouldn't dream of saying something to anyone with bad teeth no matter how close I was to them, it's not nice.
He'll be very aware of it, will more than likely be embarrassed by them, might have a phobia of the dentist, and lastly some people with bad teeth get them from taking medication.

AnnPerkins · 08/11/2021 08:51

His teeth would put me off. I'm getting my own fixed because I think they look so awful.

However, it sounds like that's not his only problem. Fixing his tightfistedness might be more effective.

AreYouRightThereSkippy · 08/11/2021 08:53

I have overcrowded teeth. They aren't terrible, but definitely wonky! Mainly the bottom row. I looked into invisalign and it sounds like an absolute faff. It isn't worth it for me and it isn't to do with cost. You cannot eat or drink with them in and you cannot take them out for more than an hour or two at a time, so basically can't go out for dinner. And this is potentially for years! It isn't just six months and done.

He doesn't have brown teeth though, due to overcrowding... I mean, I guess I don't know how bad they are, so maybe this is a thing that happens with severe overcrowding. Mine is pretty mild. But I think decent hygiene at home and at the hygienists should do it.

Itsnotover · 08/11/2021 08:54

@Cheerbear23

That’s his business, he can work out if it’s an issue himself and do something about it. You wont get thanked for pointing it out to him.

I did point it out to him and he said that he hates his teeth but doesn't want to pay to get them fixed 🤷🏻‍♀️

Merryoldgoat · 08/11/2021 08:59

OP - you’ve got a friend there who’s a moany git. Next time he moans he needs to be told:

‘Mike - you talk about this all the time but won’t do anything so this is a pointless conversation. Your teeth need sorting but you’re too tight to do it. That’s the end really. But the fact is no one wants to go out with a miser with brown teeth.’

Hobnobsandbroomstick · 08/11/2021 09:07

Even if he gets his teeth fixed, if he's a moany passive tight arse, then he might still struggle to find a girlfriend!

Hobnobsandbroomstick · 08/11/2021 09:08

But yes, I wouldn't date someone with brown teeth. Crooked but clean teeth I would, buy brown bits sound gross. His breath must wiff a bit.

Justcallmebebes · 08/11/2021 09:13

But the fact is no one wants to go out with a miser with brown teeth

^Brutal but true 🤣🤣🤣

sunshineandlollypops · 08/11/2021 09:14

I think he can't get a girlfriend because he is tight and not because of his teeth. There is nothing more unattractive that a tight arse.

SheWoreYellow · 08/11/2021 09:16

@sunshineandlollypops

I think he can't get a girlfriend because he is tight and not because of his teeth. There is nothing more unattractive that a tight arse.
Indeed. If he won’t spend £40 on a dental checkup.
Itsnotover · 08/11/2021 09:17

Yes I'm sure that doesn't help either. Tight people are hard work.

ShanghaiDiva · 08/11/2021 09:17

I don’t think it’s essential to have straight teeth, but teeth that are not clean is very unpleasant.

ElvisPresleyHadABaby · 08/11/2021 09:23

I'd encourage him to see a dentist. Bad teeth usually comes with bad breath, and if there's visible brown bits he likely needs some work done.

Allaboutthecake · 08/11/2021 09:25

Clean teeth with no build up on them are more important than straight teeth. You could have straight teeth that are minging. I wouldn’t date anyone with minging teeth.

AreYouRightThereSkippy · 08/11/2021 09:32

I think I feel the same as other posters... wonky teeth I could live with, but dirty brown teeth, even if perfectly straight would probably be a deal breaker for me, unless it was as the result of a medical condition or medication. It's the poor hygiene which I would find off-putting.

Christmas1988 · 08/11/2021 09:34

AIBU to think that straight teeth are very important in life?

Food, water, love, friendship, warmth are all very important things in life, straight teeth are not….

I’m sure a family struggling to heat their home and feed themselves put straight teeth at the top of their priority list.

Swipe left for the next trending thread