What is this issue some Americans have with British teeth ?

[Rik Meleet]

I've stumbled onto remarks (usually made by across-oceaners) insinuating British have bad teeth. And I don't understand it. During the times I've been in the UK I have not noticed that.
What is the reason for these innuendos ?

 

[MobBoss]

Google it and find out.

Edit: Just to clarify this comment wasnt meant to be 'un-gentle' but rather a plea to google up some pictures of said condition. Doing so should illustrate why the condition was parodied so well by Mike Myers as Austin Powers.

 

[Abaddon]

Its a historical reference.

 

[emzie]

My British grandparents have functunal teeth. They are not pretty.

 

[bhsup]

Google it and find out.

Be gentle with our mods!

Rik, it is just an outdated stereotype that got revived due in part to the Austin Powers movies. Here is an interesting link from the Guardian with some member comments by Brits. A couple I found interesting...

• [FONT=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]
  [*]Until the NHS started up, and before the availability of fluoride in toothpaste (or water), our British teeth were spectacularly ugly. Look at any film footage of average Britons before about 1945, and weep. The standard of living of the contemporary American probably afforded them better dental care; and, I suspect, a certain cultural austerity would have meant that corrective procedures such as braces would be regarded by us Brits as extravagance and vanity.
  Simon Gilman, London UK​
  [/FONT]

• [FONT=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]
  [*]I think Simon Gilman has put it best. Having spent my first 20 years in America and 14 years since living in the UK, I find that the average Brit is satisfied with teeth that might be crooked, stained, even slightly rotten, if they aren't causing much discomfort to their owner. Average Americans have much higher standards of expectation in the state of their dental health -- regardless of whether they have to pay for dental treatment or not, they feel very strongly that good teeth are a wise investment in looks and health. Many visits to the dentist by average Brits happen only after something has gone horribly wrong with their teeth, whilst Americans take an actively preventative approach with semi-annual dental checkups and intervention before any problems become severe. As a result of the greater amount of attention that Americans pay to their teeth, they are far more likely to notice and comment on the state of other people's teeth.
  Wendy James, London UK​
  [/FONT]

Duh, forgot the link for the Guardian posts.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-22429,00.html

 

[emzie]

I think Simon Gilman has put it best. Having spent my first 20 years in America and 14 years since living in the UK, I find that the average Brit is satisfied with teeth that might be crooked, stained, even slightly rotten, if they aren't causing much discomfort to their owner. Average Americans have much higher standards of expectation in the state of their dental health -- regardless of whether they have to pay for dental treatment or not, they feel very strongly that good teeth are a wise investment in looks and health. Many visits to the dentist by average Brits happen only after something has gone horribly wrong with their teeth, whilst Americans take an actively preventative approach with semi-annual dental checkups and intervention before any problems become severe. As a result of the greater amount of attention that Americans pay to their teeth, they are far more likely to notice and comment on the state of other people's teeth.

My parents spend $10,000 on my teeth and they're still not perfect.

edit: just called my mom, it was $9,450 in 1996 dollars on corrective work alone. On fillings, extractions, and a rootcanal, with good insurance, it was another 1,500.

I did have awful teeth though.

 

[Rik Meleet]

Thanks VRWC.

In my country many children are afraid of dentists. Also many adults don't like dentists. Some even avoid going. I think that this is a vicious circle of parents teaching their children to be afraid of the dentist.

* Does this "fear of dentists" exist widely in the USA ?
* If so, is it less important than the desire to look good; as Wendy James' quote implies ?

 

[bhsup]

Oh, I don't know if it is a fear that most have. It never bothered me, but my older brother hated dentist visits. I, on the other hand, was scared of barbers as a child.

 

[emzie]

* Does this "fear of dentists" exist widely in the USA ?

Yeah. It does. My wife, though Canadian, truly fears dentists. Like panic attacks and tears before they even sit her in a chair.

* If so, is it less important than the desire to look good; as Wendy James' quote implies ?

I would say those with the means to pay for "proper teeth" tend to get the work done. Many of my classmates had braces.

I had a device in the roof of my mouth that, with a turn of a key, would force the bridge of my mouth to expand. This was when I was like 8. Actually didn't hurt much at all....

 

[Phlegmak]

* Does this "fear of dentists" exist widely in the USA ?

I think it exists to a small extent. I suspect most people are ok with going to the dentist.

 

[ComradeDavo]

To be blunt: It's a stupid sterotype and the Americans really should get over it.

 

[Tank_Guy#3]

Thanks VRWC.

In my country many children are afraid of dentists. Also many adults don't like dentists. Some even avoid going. I think that this is a vicious circle of parents teaching their children to be afraid of the dentist.

* Does this "fear of dentists" exist widely in the USA ?
* If so, is it less important than the desire to look good; as Wendy James' quote implies ?

Not really. In fact, I just came from the dentist! Not kidding!

Most view the dentist as being a necessary "evil".

------------------------------------------------------------------

With regard to the stereotype:
The English are just oversensitive, they should get over it.

 

[Darth_Pugwash]

This one has always puzzled me too... Britons don't have notably bad teeth at all, nowadays anyway.

 

[Elrohir]

It's a stereotype. Like the idea that Americans are ignorant gun toting cowboys, or that French women don't shave their legs, or every Asian is awesome at Kung Fu and math. It shouldn't be taken seriously, unless the remarks are made with real malice.

Thanks VRWC.

In my country many children are afraid of dentists. Also many adults don't like dentists. Some even avoid going. I think that this is a vicious circle of parents teaching their children to be afraid of the dentist.

* Does this "fear of dentists" exist widely in the USA ?
* If so, is it less important than the desire to look good; as Wendy James' quote implies ?

Some people don't like going to the dentist. It's common enough that I've heard jokes and stories about going to the dentist in sermons. But I doubt that a significant portion of America avoids the dentists out of fear.

 

[ComradeDavo]

With regard to the stereotype:
The English are just oversensitive, they should get over it.

Only if you guys drop any complaints you have when we talk about how much you love your cousins

 

[amadeus]

To be blunt: It's a stupid sterotype and the Americans really should get over it.

Isn't your post stereotyping Americans?

 

[Romanfe]

Because British people are inbred. All alone on that island, what are Charles and his sister to do?

 

[bhsup]

Only if you guys drop any complaints you have when we talk about how much you love your cousins

You're just jealous because our cousins are HAWT and yours have bad teeth!

 

[Joe Harker]

I find that the average Brit is satisfied with teeth that might be crooked, stained, even slightly rotten, if they aren't causing much discomfort to their owner.

If it ain't broke don't fix it!

Because British people are inbred. All alone on that island, what are Charles and his sister to do?

I think you are confusing the general British public with the upper classes

 

[MobBoss]

To be blunt: It's a stupid sterotype and the Americans really should get over it.

Do you feel the same way about how a lot of europeans sterotype americans?

Should they 'get over it' as well?