# Do Britishers really have bad teeth? If so, why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 11, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022 "2003-06-11T02:14:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/21 "2003-06-11T12:15:31Z")
If you _really_ want to see bad teeth, come to Ireland. A bigger bunch of dentist dodgers I never done seen. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/22 "2003-06-11T12:33:19Z")
I thought the whole perception of “British teeth” started in WWII when millions of Americans saw a Brit for the first time and (due to shortages of fruit and fresh veggies with the war on and all), Brits had bad teeth. Maybe I’m wrong here, but it seems the stereotype didn’t start until the 1940s. Also just to clear up the confusion: suspenders - elastic bands _with “snap-on” clamping teeth_ that hold your pants up. braces - elastic bands _with buttonholes that correspond to buttons on the inside waist of your pants_ that hold your pants up. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/23 "2003-06-11T12:43:39Z")
Time to quote Spike Milligan: > [@](#): > > English Teeth, HEROES’ Teeth! > Hear them click! and clack! > Let’s sing a song of praise to them - > Three Cheers for the Brown Grey and Black. ---
**Author:** ![raygirvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@raygirvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raygirvan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/24 "2003-06-11T14:25:10Z")
_suspenders - elastic bands with “snap-on” clamping teeth that hold your pants up._ Never heard that one. To me, they’re just ‘clip-on braces’. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/25 "2003-06-11T14:34:29Z")
It also has to do with education: here in Canada, in grade school, they teach you all about dental hygeine. Remember those red pills that you chewed to show you where you missed brushing? … those ones that turned out to be carcinogenic, or something? In contrast, I told my English friend - 35 years old - about this newfangled thing called “flossing.” He had never heard of it. He was thrilled and amazed. And another English friend told me that the reason he drank so much tea was to help fix the tobbacco stains on his teeth. I’m not sure he was joking. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/26 "2003-06-11T15:22:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handsomeharry \* > \*\*i saw someting on tv the other day saying that the brits don’t use flouride or chloride (or something) in their water, so that could be it. \*\* Most toothpaste sold in the UK now contains Flouride. And has been stated some towns add flouride to their drinking water. On a more personal note ,when my wife was expecting our son she took flouride tablets . This son is now 28 and he has only ever had one filling. ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/27 "2003-06-11T16:01:35Z")
Of course, the stereotype also works in reverse. To many Britons (and, yes, that is the preferred term), the perfect teeth of Americans is evidence of their general phoniness. Perfect gleaming smiles are a stereotypical sign of insincerity. Uncorrected teeth are viewed as being more authentic. ---
**Author:** ![bifar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bifar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bifar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/28 "2003-06-11T16:02:17Z")
Personally, I think the stereotype no longer holds water. A generation or so ago we were pretty backward in dental stuff and people often had all their teeth taken out when they were young, as a precaution. It was very rare to wear a brace. But these days, the state of most young people’s teeth in the UK is perfectly okay. Most young kids wear braces, although capping is less common. Everyone uses fluoride toothpaste, mouthwash, floss etc. (I’m not sure about **cowgirl** ’s experience, but we’ve had dental floss in the UK for at least 20 years.) And we do that think with the red pill at school, too – at least I did. I’m actually quite insulted by the portrayal of Brits having really disgusting teeth (even when it’s a joke, as in Austin Powers and Shanghai Nights). I think it’s an old joke and writers should let it go. ---
**Author:** ![curly\_chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@curly\_chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curly_chick)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/29 "2003-06-11T16:03:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*A bigger bunch of dentist dodgers I never done seen. \*\* I’ll second that. I was a child in England and when I was about 10, I had a brace to correct an overbite. When I was 11, thankfully braceless, we moved to Ireland and when my brother got to be ten, Mum thought it was time he had this same brace. Finding an orthodontist in rural Ireland twenty odd years ago would require the tracking skills of fourteen bloodhounds called Harrison and all the satellite technology available to NASA today. And even then I can’t imagine you would have found one. Lacking such tracking ability, my folks were forced to trek to Dublin numerous times and spend shedloads of money so that my brother could have the same corrected teeth as I have. Mine were free on the NHS and the orthodontist came to the school. ---
**Author:** ![trabi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@trabi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trabi)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/30 "2003-06-11T19:52:29Z")
Rex Fenestrarum > [@](#): > > Also just to clear up the confusion: suspenders - elastic bands with “snap-on” clamping teeth that hold your pants up. > > braces - elastic bands with buttonholes that correspond to buttons on the inside waist of your pants that hold your pants up. Clear up? You’re creating it. I’m assuming that: a - you’re American, and b - you haven’t twigged that all attempts to clear up this point were related to British usage. So, the way I remember it: Suspenders - a thing for holding up women’s stockings, also worn by many judges and members of parliament. I think it is also used to describe a thing that men used to hold their socks up, but I’m not sure about that. Braces - what Americans call suspenders, OR the thing you use to straighten your teeth. It’s possible (actually probable) that this usage differs within the UK as well, but /Flame/ it really pisses me off to see someone making a blanket statement about “correct” language usage, especially having the arrogance to assume that the terms they use should be taken as universal. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/31 "2003-06-11T20:12:48Z")
Nothing like free NHS care for the under 18s for making sure kids have better teeth, fluoride or not. At least no kid has to go without braces because their parent’s can’t afford it (can’t be bothered, maybe). I had braces, and guess what, they didn’t work. I couldn’t give a rats ass. My teeth might be crooked, but they’re healthy, and I’ll just get them all capped when I have some money. It’s not like it bothers me, and it certainly isn’t worth another 20 months of agony to “fix”. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/32 "2003-06-12T06:17:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*If you _really_ want to see bad teeth, come to Ireland. > > A bigger bunch of dentist dodgers I never done seen. \*\* Have you seen what dentists charge here? I know a lot of people who go to the North when their teeth need work - even including the travel costs and time taken off work, it’s _still_ cheaper than going to a Free State dentist. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/33 "2003-06-12T07:56:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ruadh \* > \*\*Have you seen what dentists charge here? I know a lot of people who go to the North when their teeth need work - even including the travel costs and time taken off work, it’s _still_ cheaper than going to a Free State dentist. \*\* Yeah, I agree it’s shockingly expensive… but it’s not just that. I know a frightening number of people who just never go at all. ---
**Author:** ![Felonious\_Mink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Felonious\_Mink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felonious_Mink)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/34 "2003-06-12T10:56:03Z")
I have crooked teeth, but I do have a lovely and well-fitted crown. Cost me a ferckin’ fortune too - but it was my decision to have it done and I’m happy with the result. I did have a brace on my teeth when I was at school but it didn’t really make any difference at all, or didn’t appear to. Certainly it seems that in the US it is considered perfectly natural to spend a fortune on orthodontics, whereas over here in the UK we would probably consider that either vanity or eccentricity! Either way, it doesn’t happen here to the extent that it does in other countries. I’m well aware of the fact that my teeth are a long way from perfect, but they get brushed twice a day at least and they’re pretty strong so why should I worry about it? ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/35 "2003-06-12T14:18:14Z")
A contributing U.S. factor, these days anyway, is the increasing number of insurance plans that will cover orthodontia. Even 15 years ago, our plan paid half of the cost. Also the orthodontist was quite willing to let us pay the remainder in installments. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/36 "2003-06-12T15:32:36Z")
**APB** is right—I have British friends who (good-naturedly) make fun of Yanks’ big, white, Chiclet, Hollywood teeth. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/37 "2003-06-12T15:41:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bifar \* > \*\*I’m actually quite insulted by the portrayal of Brits having really disgusting teeth (even when it’s a joke, as in Austin Powers and Shanghai Nights). I think it’s an old joke and writers should let it go. \*\* Oh, so that’s what that Austin Powers’ joke is all about. I’m glad it’s finally been explained to me. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/38 "2003-06-12T15:51:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\ ***APB** is right—I have British friends who (good-naturedly) make fun of Yanks’ big, white, Chiclet, Hollywood teeth. \*\* When the Bee Gees ‘returned’ to England from the US, they all had perfect white teeth, which used to be a target for mockery on TV shows (I’m thinking Kenny Everett especially here). Quite why anyone should prefer the look of the UK variety I don’t know, but in the past it was never a high priority… ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/39 "2003-06-12T16:33:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blake \* > **What’s wrong with “Britishers”?** Not a sing is rrrrrong mit der vurd “Britisher”. Indeed, I und mein azzistant Otto usse bofe dass vurd und der vurd Amerikaner all uff der time! ---
**Author:** ![Pavlos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@Pavlos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavlos)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022/40 "2003-06-12T16:38:26Z")
I wish I could afford to go to the Dentist. The last time I went it cost me £20 for a quick checkup. The dentist then told me I needed this , that and the other doing and it would cost me £500 to sort my teeth out. I have one missing at the front top and one missing at front bottom and just cannot afford to get it done. BTW I am in full time employment so do not get any concessions even though I am probably worse off than a lot of social security claiments, but thats another topic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-britishers-really-have-bad-teeth-if-so-why/181022.md?page=3)