Europeans and bad teeth

[Divinus Arma]

Edit: Is it true that Euros take less interest in the care of their teeth than Americans? It appears that this is true, though I would like further info.



I noticed from the colosseum some folks mentioning their teeth during the discussion. It was not the topic, just a side note during the discussion. Anyway, this got me thinking. Why does it seem that so many europeans have such crappy teeth? It seems like every Euro has got snaggletooth or rot or something else wrong with their teeth. This seems especially true with England. I mean, look at Blair. His teeth are as crooked as a could be.

This comes from an American, and unless you are from Kentucky or the Datokas, teeth are a high priority in hygiene.

If this needs to be moved to the back room, that is fine. I figured it was light enought for the front room.

Edit: No offense to any Europeans here. It is just a perception that I want to clarify.

[The_Doctor]

Why do Euros have such nasty teeth?

I have no idea. Maybe it is because we are great at everything else, so there must be something bad about us.

I have had braces and that is it ,no other problems. I brush my teeth like there is no tomorrow.

[Byzantine Prince]

They have expensive dentists over there. Also dental hygene is lower in their priorities as you mentioned. It's an odd thing, but from my first 13 years I lived in Europe, my teeth are horrible to put it lightly. Not necessarily the dentists fault, but mine because I just didn't care enough.

It's weird but people in Europe also don't care about body hair on women. And I don't as well, even though I now live in N.America. No chick would leave armpit hair unshaved here though.

You see this?
Now add some crookedness and make them yellow and you got me giving you a smile.

[The_Doctor]

It's weird but people in Europe also don't care about body hair on women. And I don't as well, even though I now live in N.America. No chick would leave armpit hair unshaved here though.

I have never seen this. It is North American propaganda.

[Divinus Arma]

Glad to see you poking around here, BP. That ban was interesting stuff.

Crooked yellow teeth and armpit hair: those are my type of ladies! Blah.

[Divinus Arma]

I have never seen this. It is North American propaganda.

You think so? Perhaps. But not government propaganda. Just hollywood.

There is some truth to it, though. Look at Blair. And my mother married a brit after divorcing my father. And the Brit has got jacked up teeth too!

[The_Doctor]

I wasn't talking about teeth. I was taking about hairy girls.



Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

[Divinus Arma]

Aint that the truth!

Damn fat pigs. Of course, this is not everywhere. And usually this only inflicts the ignorant or middle aged. Young american broads are too controlled by the hollywood image machine to let themselves get too fat. Hell, my wife has been about a 100 lbs and 5'4" for the last seven years!

[Sjakihata]

There is some truth to it, though. Look at Blair. And my mother married a brit after divorcing my father. And the Brit has got jacked up teeth too!

I see you have a degree in statistics

[Divinus Arma]

No reason to get snippy. I took statistics and I understand your comment.

I am basing this on a perception that has been presented to me. Not from an actual sample size. That is why I have posted this question.

Perhaps I should reword it to "Is it true that Euros take less interest in the care of their teeth than Americans?"

It was not my intent to offend. I will place an edit in the opener.

[Krusader]

A dentist appointment costs 1500 NOK, which is roughly 241 US $. And that's minimal fee. If anything else is done except a routine check the price goes up.

My dad had an accident, and had to remove two teeth and do some routine checkings. It cost him a grand total of 20.000 NOK which = 3200 US $

Many Norwegians just simply don't have enough cash and there have many complaints about the ridicilously high prices. The medical authorities are planning to introduce a maximum-price as dentists are taking higher fees.

Note: From 0-18 years every Norwegian has free dentist checkups. And in the military.

[CBR]

A dentist appointment costs 1500 NOK, which is roughly 241 US $. And that's minimal fee. If anything else is done except a routine check the price goes up.

OMG what the hell are you doing up there?? Its like uhm 20% of that or less here in Denmark.


CBR

[71-hour Ahmed]

I think it would be more accurate to say that the dental focus in Britain at least (which I know about) is prevention of decay and pain and not ensuring consistency of position or whiteness of colour, which is a completely different thing. My dentist as a child would probably have laughed at me if I'd wanted pure white straight teeth as its not something he'd consider of any importance.

Its no less hygenic - white teeth are as likely to be a sign of use of colour changing chemicals as actual care of teeth, or just crowns. Is a mouth of crowns healthy in your eyes? You are confusing aesthetic focus with health.

But I will agree that in the UK (and again I can't speak for 700 million Europeans) we don't for the most part care as much about the appearance of our teeth. And I have never (with one glaring exception that was unique) considered a womans appearance in terms of her teeth. In fact the girl I fancied most at Uni had Vampire like teeth (very oversized teeth at that position, and gaps either side so the eye was drawn to them). I actually thought it looked kinda cute, nicer than a regular and exact set of teeth would have.

Since we are talking prices, a check up for me cost £30 (about $45) and the work I need will cost another £110 (about $160) - that includes some teeth cleaning (got some minor gum problems in areas I stopped brushing as much due to pain and bleeding) and a filling in a little gap at the point where a tooth meets the gum (which I've had all my life). I don't think its too horrific but its not cheap either.

edit: the gum problems are not a sign of european lack of care btw, I just got a mouth infection due to certain bad habits regarding chewing the ends of pens...

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

$240? that's twice as much as a US dentist.
back home I quit going to the NHS (which is cheaper but still pricey as we get supertaxed for the joys of the NHS even before dental charges) as it's increasingly hard to find an NHS dentist and get an appointment. I went private. More expensive but at least I can get to see a dentist.

I still have a stubborn tea stain on one tooth though: grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I refuse to give tea up.

[Quietus]

If you eat lots of sugar your tooth will decay quickly.

And you need sunlight for your Vitamin D.

[RabidGibbon]

Hmmm, well I'm from europe (UK) and my teeth are pretty damn horrendous.

I pay £8 a month for my twice yearly check up's, but that's a kind of insurance thing too that includes if I need a massive drill stuck in the old nashers.

As for Vitamin D, if I went outside to get some I'd just get rained on, and besides I'm far too busy sat in a dark room typing post's about the quality of my teeth to go outside .

[Ironside]

In Sweden is the dental quality quite high.

Free dental the first 20 years and about the same price class as Denmark. Although the prices is still complained about, as more extensive stuff (crowns for example) isn't cheap.

And Krusader what are they doing there in Norway?

[Somebody Else]

I last went to a dentist... oh, maybe 4 or 5 years ago... probably even longer, can't remember. Then again, my teeth are pretty much perfectly straight (apart from one tedious molar). Admittedly, they're not shiny white, but nor are they unhealthy - I've never had any problems with them, hence not going to a dentist for such a long time.

Of course, I do try to avoid eating junk - sugary foods aren't really my thing.

[Quid]

Interseting to say the least. I have little doubt that North Americans probably take more care of their teeth than the gros of Europe. This is probably mainly because of the staggering prices over here. It has been once calculated, if dental care were covered by health insurance they would go bankrupt within 2 weeks or so; and we're talking SWISS insurance!!!

I woudn't go as far as saying that Euopean's teeth are in bad health althogether, however, considering that plaque is the number one disease factor WORLDWIDE! The worst teeth I have seen in China and Japan so far. One of my mate's teeth are so bad he could eat fries through a tennis racket.

As for hairy armpits (or generally hairy women); I would put that down to myth.

Quid

[English assassin]

Its the tea.

IMHO people in the Uk have perfectly normal healthy teeth, on average, although whitening is not such a big thing as it seems to be in the US.

And women do remove body hair in Europe, good grief, what are you guys on????

[The Stranger]

hehehehehe, main difference we got harry potter for president you got a mix between a chimp and a cow