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Shitoryu Dude
24th February 2003, 17:03
Long a standing joke in the US, "British Teeth" refers to what appears to be a total lack of dentistry among British subjects. Braces seem unheard of, and now laws that condemn Brits to having yellow teeth.

News Link (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/02/23/nteeth23.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/02/23/ixhome.html)

Time for you guys to do something about this.

:beer:

Mike Williams
24th February 2003, 17:26
Nasty teeth just go well with bald heads, goatee beards, dodgy tattoos and beer bellies.

It's a source of national pride.

Cheers,

Mike

Shitoryu Dude
24th February 2003, 17:38
Hmmm, and I thought you were all just hoping to be extras in vampire/monster movies :p

I've heard that braces aren't covered under your "universal health care" because they're considered cosmetic or something like that. But it seems to go beyond that for a lot of people - I've seen a good number of Brits who don't seem to have ever made a visit to the dentist. What the heck is up with that?

:beer:

Jack B
24th February 2003, 20:45
Yet another Brilliant reason for England or anyone else not to be in the EU. It's a socialist plot to control the world.

How long do you think the "EU" concept will last? I predict that the first time an EU country gets invaded or runs out of food, it'll collapse in bureaucratic ineffectiveness. Maybe even the first time some EU members won't go along with some other EU members scaring up a war.

MarieB
25th February 2003, 04:32
Originally posted by Shitoryu Dude
Long a standing joke in the US, "British Teeth" refers to what appears to be a total lack of dentistry among British subjects. Braces seem unheard of, and now laws that condemn Brits to having yellow teeth.

i too have always been curious as to why Brits seem to have bad teeth. is there a reason other than just national pride? :confused:

Exorcist_Fist
25th February 2003, 05:10
Come to Japan. I think it is somehow related to Island Empires.

-D

Shitoryu Dude
25th February 2003, 05:23
Hmmm, you may have a point. I know a lot of Japanese here in the US who are in their 30's and 40's who get braces as soon as they hit US soil. On the whole I think they have better dental hygiene than most working class Brits I've seen.

:beer:

BigJon
25th February 2003, 05:55
Well not exactly a Brit...but the point is there!!
I am going in to floss right now..
Jon Gillespie

Exorcist_Fist
25th February 2003, 06:20
That guy's not British, thats Willem Dafoe made up for his role in "Shadow of the Vampire".

Isn't it?

Jeff Hamacher
25th February 2003, 07:14
where the hell were you during the Pogues' peak of popularity 15 years ago?!? that's their former frontman Shane McGowan, a drunk to outconsume all drunks.

and i think the situation with bad Japanese teeth results directly from medieval dentistry. i have to admit, things have improved considerably in some places: my wife had emergency care on three chipped teeth and the dentist we found in the Yellow Pages did a great job, and at 8:00 o'clock on a Monday night to boot. but apparently it wasn't more than a few years back that Japanese dentists routinely drilled out cavities without using freezing (and wondered why gaijin couldn't simply put up with the pain), as well as simultaneously treating 6 or 8 different patients' mouths without washing their hands!

the whole medical establishment here needs to bootstrap its minimum standards into the 21st century.

Striking Hand
25th February 2003, 07:25
Don't know which Dentists you Guys visit.
All 3 that I have been to over here were excellent.

1 was emergency for an exposed nerve on a Sunday afternoon.

The other 2 are close to places where i live/d

Even my Wife who has a phobia of Dentists lost it with them.

So far most of the docs and dentists I have seen have been on a par with what I am used to from europe.


:D :D

william northcote
25th February 2003, 08:37
Well being a Brit, we only practice this secret hobby so you Americans can talk about us. :D

But on the serious side, there are toothpastes that claim to whiten teeth. Clinomyn toothpaste is an abrasive for teeth, as it is classed as a smokers toothpaste. Others like Colgate, Gibbs SR and McLeans offer whitening. Even supermarkets own brands offer a cheaper (and less effective) way of cleaning teeth to the natural whiteness.

Maybe it is down to the dentists themselves. As most dentists only allow private patients that can afford to pay for treatment. This will leave out the unemployed or the low income population of England. Mind you there is a few NHS dentists in my small city that will cap your teeth for free. I have had one tooth removed. 2 teeth made dead and 3 gold teeth (capped), plus in the early 1990's £1,000 of dental treatment to realign my front teeth without the need for braces.

But this treatment is nothing more than a money parting the pocket of the vain trick. If you can affor it you will get white teeth but you will go around with a breath smelling of the back end of a pig (dont even think about asking how I know that:( ).

monkeyboy_ssj
25th February 2003, 10:33
I think it is more a think with older people due to Dentistry being very expensive a few years a go.

Being quite young i've had good toothcare and many young people these days in the UK will have railway tracks fitted to there faces and get them painfully tightened just to have straighter teeth.



Here's a new thread idea.

How come American men (and some women) grow mullets? Or have huge pick up trucks just to drive around in? Or once past 35, feel the need to grow handlebar mustashes (especially police officers)?

Or the worst...Wear cowboy hats when they are site seeing in London in the middle of winter, could you look more like a sore thumb!

:D

Cheers!

Mike Williams
25th February 2003, 11:22
Just as the Brits are famous for having bad teeth, when in fact we are outshone by the Japanese - so the Americans are famous for mullets & mustaches, when in fact the real champions of that particular look are east Germans.

But on the whole, I'd rather have bad teeth than bad hair - at least I have the option of keeping my mouth shut.

Cheers,

Mike

william northcote
25th February 2003, 12:33
But on the whole, I'd rather have bad teeth than bad hair - at least I have the option of keeping my mouth shut.

Cheers,

Mike

And that is why we Brits never smile.:D

Richard Price
25th February 2003, 13:37
Why do Brits have bad teeth? For the same reason that most Americans are fat and obnoxious...it's expected of us.

BigJon
25th February 2003, 14:29
That guy's not British, thats Willem Dafoe made up for his role in "Shadow of the Vampire".

Actually thats when old Shane looked alright! Here is a more recent one:

Jon Gillespie

BigJon
25th February 2003, 14:40
Sorry, was trying to post this photo:

"Bugger has anyone seen mt pants"?

Mike Williams
25th February 2003, 14:58

Shitoryu Dude
25th February 2003, 15:54
Mullets have been so dead on this continent for the last 10 years even we treat them as a joke from hell. If you see an American with a mullet, ask him about the last NASCAR race he went to and which is better, Country or Western music? Very short hair is currently in style in the US - at least half the men I know have a buzzcut.

Not even cowboys wear cowboy hats - they wear whatever baseball cap they got for free from the local feed dealer. Just about anyone you see wearing a cowboy hat is so far removed from reality as to be a Frenchman.

99% of the people who drive around huge pickups have bigger egos and tiny dicks - the rest of them actually need a truck that big work, but the truck usually looks beat to hell.

:beer:

Jeff Hamacher
26th February 2003, 01:07
Jon,

"eh, who's that dirty little man, there?!"

Mike,

"the ace of spades!!! the ace of spades!!!" (or as we in the colonies are more than likely to hear, "the ice of spides!!! the ice of spides!!!") i saw Motorhead in 1996 and i honestly think that Lemmy's appearance has improved with age; amazing how quitting speed can work wonders!

Jeff Hamacher
26th February 2003, 02:16
... Peter, please contact me by PM. i have a question for you regarding T'ai Chi. and yes, i'd have to agree that i've been fortunate with my (infrequent) medical care while in Japan. unfortunately, i know of cases where friends of mine received very questionable "treatment" here in Nagano ... perhaps because we're the backcountry? i dunno. i heard from one of the teachers in my jo association that the hospital here in the Suwa district where i had my knee surgery is one of the best in Japan.

Tripitaka of AA
26th February 2003, 03:19
NHS in the UK guarantees free dental treatment for all children under sixteen and greatly reduced prices for everyone else. Over the last 10-15 years, many surgeries have stopped taking on NHS patients and become Private Only.

The reasons for badly aligned teeth; no-one was vain enough to consider the hell of brace-wearing. This seems to have changed in recent times and you are more likely to see it (when i was a kid, the only braces i saw were on American kids whose parents were working in the UK on secondment).

The reasons for missing/capped/amalgam-filled teeth; the finest range of confectionery items in the world. More variety of chocolate bars and sugar candies than the largest US supermarket, in every small newsagents and tobacconists shop. The lack of all-powerful media stereotyping that demands white straight teeth for social inclusion - a reasonably succesful singer(sic) over here called Ronan Keating (Boyzone, and now manager of Westlife), decided to have all his teeth capped and straightened recently, prior to making a bid to "make it" in the US market.


The "whitening" toothpaste referred to earlier, has been the "new" stuff on the shelves for only the last 5 years or so... which would make me think we must be about 20 years behind the US on that front (remembering the Osmonds on TV, we used to turn up the contrast and turn down the brightness until all you saw was the teeth - if you tried that on Eastenders you'd be left with nothing at all).

Tripitaka of AA
26th February 2003, 03:25
Incidentally, when I visited Japan in the mid-Eighties I was startled to see that Poster-Girls and popular icons had such irregular teeth. It seems that Japanese society had even less concerns about alignment than UK at the time. I don't know the causes or the current state, but enormous costs of Dental treatment must figure largely.

Perhaps the cultural/historical remnants of pre-Meiji values are in effect. High class wives of the elite would blacken their teeth. I'm told that it was considered a thing of beauty - or was it a mark of marriage/ownership like the coloured dot on a Hindu forehead?

Iain
26th February 2003, 11:46
Everyone knows the true land of cowboy hats, mullets, concert t-shirts, pilsner, and Rock and Roll is wonderful Alberta! I don't know if you chaps south of the border can even rent the movie Fubar (Independant flick shot in Calgary, did well at some film vestival and picked up a bit of a cult following), but if you ever see it you will truly know what it means to be 'White Trash'. Just Give 'er eh!

Kimpatsu
26th February 2003, 12:37
Wow, this is a subject dear to my heart, as I've been going to a Harvard-educated Japanese dentist (last visit was only yesterday!) every week for the last few months to get done all the work I should have had when I was a kid.
First point: Braces, and other cosmetic dentistry, is not available on the NHS, so you have to go private. We would have done, if we'd actually known that such treatment was available; dentists in the UK imply that there's nothing they can do about your teeth cosmetically.
Point number two: As Silent Dan says, Japanese dentists still behave like barbers in the Wild West. Best avoided.
When all this work's done and I've got a Hollywood Film Star Smile, I'll post a pic for you all to see.
Yours toothsomely,

Exorcist_Fist
26th February 2003, 13:13
Say it aint so, count!

I mean Tony.

I gotta get your dentists name. Next all I need is a good hair stylist, and a manicurist, and I am set!

Bradenn
26th February 2003, 13:17
Never mind the bad teeth. I want to know why so many British blokes are bald at a young age?

I'm a Brit and like many of my friends I started losing my hair before 25. I'm 31 and totally bald on top. Stupid me. I thought that was normal until I went to USA for the first time a few months ago. I was surprised to see far fewer bare pates and virtually none in guys my age. (I did notice more obese people though)

So what's going on? What are they putting in our water?

Exorcist_Fist
26th February 2003, 13:44
You know, when I first lived in Europe--germany to be exact--I noticed that too. Europeans go bald with greater frequency and earlier, than Americans seem to.

I have not the slightest clue why that is. I have however noticed that some stereotypes hold true and that even in Japan, bald men seem to rarely rise to the levels of upper management. I have personally always felt that some of the stranger traditional asian hair cuts were a response to a person in power having gone bald on top early. sort of like the story about why spaniards lisp and colonial spaniards dont...

Bradenn
26th February 2003, 14:19
I wonder if it's genetic or if it is caused by the environment or food or living conditions?

Exorcist_Fist
26th February 2003, 14:28
doht!

Shitoryu Dude
26th February 2003, 14:30
For the baldness there are three reasons you aren't seeing it in the US.

1) Minoxodil and it's like

2) Surgery

3) Putting a dead woodchuck on your head and calling it hair

I have never understood the way some people freak out at going bald. Over here hiding the fact that you are losing you hair is an industry worth billions.

:beer:

william northcote
26th February 2003, 15:02
Well I may as well say that In the north of England there isn't many people in thier 20's that are not naturally bald.

Me, well, long hair and proud of it. I suppose that it is genetic about the baldness, the same genetic affiction that the vikings had with thier hands.

My friend went bald in the Navy, but he was wearing fire proof masks while in the nuclear submarines on tours for months on end.


Putting a dead woodchuck on your head and calling it hair

Hmm!! Sounds like fun.

Shitoryu Dude
26th February 2003, 16:00
Baldness is a genetic condition that is inherited maternally. Men who experience male pattern baldness have excess levels of dihydratestosterone (DHT) in their systems which certain hair follicles use as a "turn off" switch.

You can either transplant follicles that are not affected by DHT to your bald spot, try to find a method to counteract the effects of DHT, or reduce the amount of DHT in your system.

On the other hand, who really gives a rat? It's just hair. Are some sort of pansy-ass, vain woman that you have to primp your hair like David Hasselhoff? Real men don't give a crap about such things.

:beer:

william northcote
26th February 2003, 16:35
Originally posted by Shitoryu Dude
Real men don't give a crap about such things.


Nope it is the vain ones that do :D

Kimpatsu
26th February 2003, 22:57
Originally posted by Bradenn
Never mind the bad teeth. I want to know why so many British blokes are bald at a young age?
Being much more intelligent than anyone else, our brains are growing right out of our heads... :D

william northcote
27th February 2003, 08:22
Coneheads??? Only seen the film, but hever a real one lol :D

Margaret Lo
28th February 2003, 17:36
Originally posted by Bradenn
Never mind the bad teeth. I want to know why so many British blokes are bald at a young age?

I'm a Brit and like many of my friends I started losing my hair before 25. I'm 31 and totally bald on top. Stupid me. I thought that was normal until I went to USA for the first time a few months ago. I was surprised to see far fewer bare pates and virtually none in guys my age. (I did notice more obese people though)

So what's going on? What are they putting in our water?

Its either Hair Club for Men. You see it on TV regularly in which some smarmy fellow advertises various sophis camoflauge at huge prices.

OR

Its that previous generations of American women snuck off with American Indians who rarely go bald. :D

M

CEB
28th February 2003, 17:53
Do most countries have floridated water supplies or is that just an American thing?

monkeyboy_ssj
28th February 2003, 17:55
Yeah, we've got all sorts of crap in our tap water supply ^_^

Adam Young
28th February 2003, 18:54
Originally posted by Iain
I don't know if you chaps south of the border can even rent the movie Fubar (Independant flick shot in Calgary, did well at some film vestival and picked up a bit of a cult following), but if you ever see it you will truly know what it means to be 'White Trash'. Just Give 'er eh! Wow, I didn't think anyone else on this list would have seen that. I actually have the DVD at home.

william northcote
28th February 2003, 19:19
Originally posted by monkeyboy_ssj
Yeah, we've got all sorts of crap in our tap water supply ^_^

Yep, as well as urine, flouride, lead form degrading pipes, leaves.

In London alone, the water has been passed 9 times before you get to drink it:eek: Thats why I live in the North of Limey land, less leaves to stop the water from running.

Mike Williams
28th February 2003, 19:39
Originally posted by Will Northcote
In London alone, the water has been passed 9 times before you get to drink it

Surely you couldn't ask for a more thorough filtering process?

Cheers,

Mike

Tripitaka of AA
2nd March 2003, 11:59
Originally posted by Kimpatsu

When all this work's done and I've got a Hollywood Film Star Smile, I'll post a pic for you all to see.
Yours toothsomely,


Here is the BEFORE;

Tripitaka of AA
2nd March 2003, 12:01
And now the AFTER;

william northcote
2nd March 2003, 14:09
Originally posted by Mike Williams


Surely you couldn't ask for a more thorough filtering process?

Cheers,

Mike

Having it filtered through other humans is not a good idea of filtration lol

MarieB
3rd March 2003, 02:19
Originally posted by Shitoryu Dude
Baldness is a genetic condition that is inherited maternally. Men who experience male pattern baldness have excess levels of dihydratestosterone (DHT) in their systems which certain hair follicles use as a "turn off" switch.

On the other hand, who really gives a rat? It's just hair. Are some sort of pansy-ass, vain woman that you have to primp your hair like David Hasselhoff? Real men don't give a crap about such things.



yeah...to reverse it, i suppose real women dont give a crap about the size of their boobs, butts, how their skin looks ;)

...one could argue no one should care about anything related to their looks...but looks are important. we judge people all the time based on their looks. you do it too ;)

it would be nice if no one cared about their looks or each other's looks, but then there would be no cosmetic industry...wed have to look for everyone's inner beauty...the horrors! :p

william northcote
3rd March 2003, 08:01
Men think women are vain?

but men also think about themselves. Men think about the grow old and be disgraceful while wanting a nice blonde 18 year old.

Men worry. If it isn't about hair loss, it is about the size of thier manhood. A woman can lie thier thrash about and deflate a mans pride by saying "Is that it?" or "Be quick darling, I want to boil an egg." ;) And then there is those dubious pop ups on some unnamed sites that want men to increase the size, and it doesn't mean the midrift.

Men are as much vain as they claim women are. Men wear make up. Exfoliate the skin. They buy clothes to look good in on a Saturday night. Body spray counters are either cheap or expensive bottles of smellies, but they still wear them.

We go home from training, into a bath or shower and choose our fave soap, emerge from the dojo's changing room engulfed in a cloud of cheap deoderant killing the flies as you walk past and nearly getting charged as a health hazard. :D

We need to rethink ourselves if we are going to say that women are vain. It goes both ways. Just accept it and nothing more will be said.

A. M. Jauregui
5th August 2003, 11:37
"In one episode a dentist tries to encourage Bart's sister Lisa to wear her orthodontic brace by showing her a copy of "The Big Book of British Smiles". It is filled with pictures of Brits with horribly crooked and decaying teeth, there is even a picture of someone who looks not unlike Prince Charles. To our friends across the Atlantic we seem to be the centre of dental ridicule, a population of Austin Powers look-a-likes with wonky, criss-crossed teeth."

StanLee
5th August 2003, 13:38
Oi you yanks!

There ain't nout wrong wit our teeth!

It just costs a lot to fix them.

Shitoryu Dude
5th August 2003, 14:18
And yet most Americans can find the money to see the dentist..... :D

Time for you Brits to get your medical program overhauled.

william northcote
5th August 2003, 14:44
WE go natural as we are not as vain as some Californians.