Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you date someone with missing teeth?

258 replies

Claddinghell · 16/04/2022 20:07

Went on a date with a really nice guy. Ticked boxes and was attracted to him. However he had teeth missing. His top front tooth and few teeth towards the front. Very noticeable, but the cresting his teeth were white a like after. His pictures online had no pictures showing his teeth.

I told him a story of a tooth abscess during lockdown 1 when everything was closed. Told him that I had to get massive repair when everything opened. Thought this might provoke a conversation on his teeth. Sort of I had an accident they are getting fixed. But nothing.

My teeth are not the best and I do have a back tooth missing due to injury with a cherry pip and failed root canal.

Wouid you continue to date. It’s really noticeable

OP posts:
TheOriginalEmu · 17/04/2022 03:24

@GivenchyDahhling

Absolutely not. Total dealbreaker. You can get implants everywhere now for a few grand so no excuses.
Not everyone can get implants or has a few grand sitting about to afford them.

If he’s a nice guy in other ways I’d give it a chance.

Walkingalot · 17/04/2022 03:42

It would totally put me off and I would not be attracted to them at all. What you might look over now will become more apparent later on. Be careful.

FindingMeno · 17/04/2022 04:32

How so? @Aquamarine1029

FindingMeno · 17/04/2022 04:37

Missing teeth can be lack of access to a dentist, lack of money, loss in an accident, genetic dental issues and so on.
It's not always down to poor hygiene!
I think in this day and age, people who don't conform to the implants/ botox/ lip filler/ blah blah blah standards expected by reality TV and social media, are rather refreshing.

NOTANUM · 17/04/2022 05:21

It’s one thing having missing teeth - no problem there - but quite another not to even have a partial denture or similar, even if implants or bridges are out of reach financially.

alittlefickle · 17/04/2022 05:31

@DoorWasAJar

Never seemed to have an issue eating/drinking. He did have to get new ones a little while before we split because the old ones weren't fitting properly.

From memory (and mine is shocking) he chose to have them removed on the NHS when he was old enough to make that choice himself... I can't recall the exact reasons behind it and I wouldn't like to give false information!

I reckon I can count on one hand the amount of times I knew of when he had to reapply the fixture stuff ... but we never really spoke about it. It was part of him and I really didn't care..... I loved him, not his teeth!!

SlashBeef · 17/04/2022 05:37

Absolutely not. I can't bear bad teeth so it would be an immediate deal breaker for me. I wouldn't have tried to get him to talk about it though.

Quincythequince · 17/04/2022 06:11

I wouldn’t, no.
Poor dental hygiene is grim, and even if it’s not that from lack brushing etc, poor oral care I.e. missing teeth untreated is also grim.

Only possibility is that it went wrong in lockdown and he hasn’t yet put it right 🤷🏼‍♀️

Quincythequince · 17/04/2022 06:15

Teeth break, fail, and fall out. C’est la vie. It happens to us all

It really doesn’t happen to us all.

I’ve never had so much as a filling!

Quincythequince · 17/04/2022 06:17

@FindingMeno

Missing teeth can be lack of access to a dentist, lack of money, loss in an accident, genetic dental issues and so on. It's not always down to poor hygiene! I think in this day and age, people who don't conform to the implants/ botox/ lip filler/ blah blah blah standards expected by reality TV and social media, are rather refreshing.
How on earth are unreplaced missing teeth even remotely comparable to Botox/fillers?
itsgettingweird · 17/04/2022 06:31

[quote Monty27]@57itsgettingweird that's awful. Is it private prices? NHS has a ceiling on costs. £200 per denture and I don't mean per tooth. A set of dentures.[/quote]
I had a plate on the nhs. But due to my jaw issues it gave me such pain I can't use it. I couldn't build tolerance.

The other work can only be done privately.

We aren't broke but I'm a single parent and my ds is disabled so we aren't rolling it it either where I can justify paying that sort of money.

It's interesting as well to hear how many say they question dental hygiene. Mines always classed as excellent. It is.

However I had a wisdom tooth toe into the root of my back tooth cracking it in the jawline. The result 6 years of continued pain and fighting to save my teeth as my jaw crumbled and teeth had to be removed was awful. I hate looking I'm the mirror and smiling.

It's hard - I, sure if someone saw someone with a leg amputated they wouldn't immediately assume poor care and hygeine.

Quincythequince · 17/04/2022 06:33

This thread is terrible.
Why are people so shocked that some people won’t date someone with missing teeth?
People date who they are attracted to and if looks were high on your list (I have no opinion on that) then missing teeth would be a deal-breaker.

I see no issue here.

And the comments about not dating someone with MH issues either? Really!!

FWIW my DH has terrible teeth (had several knocked out as a kid etc) although he has false teeth in so you really can’t tell, and he has good dental hygiene, so it’s not an issue.

People are allowed to not be attracted to something as big a deal as missing teeth, especially if you’re venturing out dating. This isn’t remotely comparable to an existing pattern developing issues.

CJay81 · 17/04/2022 06:35

I've got several side/back teeth missing. Yes I suffered depression in the past and didn't take care of myself at one point and i also hate the dentist. I brush them thoroughly these days though and haven't learnt my lesson. I'm not spending thousands just to have a few side/back teeth replaced that no-one can see unless I open my mouth. Mumsnet is so shallow it's unbelievable. I must be undatable according to this thread🤣

CJay81 · 17/04/2022 06:37

*have

readingismycardio · 17/04/2022 06:37

No. Teeth are really important. And I do secretly judge. I'd prioritise teeth over almost anything. They're not only important for appearance, but also for your stomach, etc.

Tyrozet · 17/04/2022 06:44

@GivenchyDahhling

Absolutely not. Total dealbreaker. You can get implants everywhere now for a few grand so no excuses.
Yes, everyone just has a few grand lying around to pay for dental work 🙄

I have two front teeth missing, I had an abcess at the beginning of lockdown and as they were only giving basic emergency treatment I had to either have them pulled or put up with the excruciating pain that had me literally screaming in agony. I can't afford implants and I have a horrible fear of the dentist.

Of course I'm self-conscious about how it looks but my options at present are limited. If you don't find him attractive because of it that's fair enough - I know mine don't look nice! I wouldn't have brought it up though.

muckandnettles · 17/04/2022 06:51

I dont know what some Mumsnetters will do as they get older and their OH's looks stop being so perfect. LTB presumably.

WildCoasts · 17/04/2022 06:59

I'd keep an open mind. As long as he had a good personality it wouldn't have to be a deal breaker.

Quincythequince · 17/04/2022 07:00

@muckandnettles

I dont know what some Mumsnetters will do as they get older and their OH's looks stop being so perfect. LTB presumably.
Except it’s not talking about an existing partner is it, she’s talking about dating someone new.

Are people telling me that they think someone with a gob full of missing teeth is visually attractive? And even if you’re not bothered by it, that you wouldn’t consider the possible lack of hygiene or future health problems because of it.

All other things being equal, nobody can see why missing teeth might mean someone might go ‘not for me thanks’

And again, my DH has ‘bad teeth’ and has since he was a child but knows he has to be careful and takes good care of his oral hygiene.

HoppingPavlova · 17/04/2022 07:01

Maybe it’s a temporary thing? DH lost a front tooth and was ineligible for an implant due to issues with the bone. He had a dental plate that just had that single missing tooth. Every now and again he loses another one and has to take the plate in to a special service and they add a tooth but it does mean he is without it for a few days and has ‘missing teeth’ in that time. During Covid there was one point where they were not operating, then had a backlog etc so on that occasion he was without a tooth for a few months until he could have the plate updated.

catinboots123 · 17/04/2022 07:03

@Keyra I think I remember your thread about that Grin

Did anything come of it?

KatherineJaneway · 17/04/2022 07:05

No I wouldn't

MyMumsJenjenn · 17/04/2022 07:11

Yes, if it was a crocodile - I'd feel a lot safer.

Grin (with teeth!)

Oysterbabe · 17/04/2022 07:20

It's a no from me. I went on a date with a guy with awful teeth, he could have eaten an apple through a tennis racket. It was very unattractive.

Bringing it up was pretty out of order though, poor guy.

purplesequins · 17/04/2022 07:22

depends.
if the person is mid-treatment - maybe.