I have given up all caring about my teeth.

I have really lovely teeth but they do cost a fortune

and i don't mean that in a big headed way btw, people often comment how lovely they are but I had to have extensive orthodontic work and I have to pay above what NHS recommend to keep them looking like they do

I hate going to the dentist too

btw I have a really fat arse

I'm shocked at the people who think that full dentures aren't that bad.
Real Teeth have roots. Roots are instrumental in giving structure to the face.
If there's no root, the gums and bones eventually shrink.
You then lose things like lip height and can also get a hollowed cheek look.

Teeth are important. And people DO notice when someone wears full dentures (wel I notice )
They are probably too polite to say anything.

Well snowberry I've had full dentures since I was 11 as I said. Yes teeth are important, but what if you don't have any through no fault of your own? I must have met thousands of people who are 'too polite to say' as in 61 years of having them, no one has ever commented.

Must never give up on teeth as several posters have explained so well. But what do people do, when they just can't find an NHS dentist, and cannot afford the work? This is the perferct illustration of what is happening to other sectors of the NHS, à la USA. A tiered system where some can afford insurance and treatment, some can beg or borrow funds, and others ....

It's a bloody disgrace that people in this country have resorted to pulling their own teeth.

nandertube and Far North. Can you imagine?

DH and I work harder now than we did when we were younger to keep our teeth.

I think we had that misguided belief that our teeth like everything else, knees, hips and so on would always be as good as it was when we were in our 30's and 40's. We were so wrong. But thankfully, so far, we still have our own teeth, knees and hips.

Our NHS dentist has a 'Private" part and every time DH and I go the receptionist ask if we want any cosmetic dentistry.

The ladies (they are both ladies) have been in the job for years and give us a look and a shoulder shrug as if to say we have to ask, I've heard people give some rude replies.

As much as I'd like to improve the Look of my teeth I'm glad I still them and will do anything and everything I can to keep them I won't do anything to risk them.

I remember a thread on here a long time ago asking what gadget we'd bought that we were really please with. I said a Water Flosser. Some comments were just queries as to what it was and some weren't very pleasant.

Water Flossers are more widely used now and I think they are a good thing to help look after our teeth, love the Pam Ayres poem.

I find it better for me than conventional flossing although I still floss with the string stuff and interdent brushes from time to time.

I'd buy another in a heartbeat if mine stopped working as it's made a big difference to helping us keep our teeth and gums in good order.

I dread having to have a plate, people I know who have them seem to have so much trouble with them yet my mum had false teeth for years and she never had a bit of bother. I just don't want to risk it.

I want to keep my teeth for as long as I need them. I have had to pay full price as I couldn't find an NHS dentist. I have a dental plan. My teeth are a priority as far as money is concerned for all the reasons posters before me have mentioned.

Oh Kate that is so awful. I know what it is like in a way as a dentist took 6 of my teeth out when I was a child. It should have been only 1. I've had lots of dentist visits since and issues because of it. Until recently I had a private dentist who was slowly improving my teeth and they are much better. Unfortunately he has now retired. Teeth are important.

When two front crowns I'd had for forty years became shaky and the roots under them showed signs of infection, I reluctantly accepted the dentist's recommendation of a partial denture. After a temporary denture for ten months, I now had the (hopefully) permanent one fitted yesterday and am getting used to it. It looks good and is beginning to feel natural. I remember my mum coming home from the dentist with a bleeding mouth after having all her teeth extracted in her 30s. I feel thankful and relieved to have reached my 80s without such an ordeal

greenlady102

MayBeMaw

If a simple bridge doesn't work then I'll have a gap. However if it was front teeth I would bite the bullet and have an implant although I hate the thought

Might be difficult! (Biting, I mean) .

Its not as easy as Oh I will have an implant...(experience) you need good bone density for implants to work and one of the things letting teeth rot in your mouth does is reduce bone density...as does meopause, age and so on as well as the genetic aspects. I had a failed implant due to leaving it too late to have the procedure...its an expensive way to end up with a gap.

Sorry that was meant as a joke “losing front teeth”, “biting the bullet” -geddit?

An ordeal indeed annodomini especially at 11. I'm sure it happened to other children. I have read that there were dentists about at the time (late 50s/early 60s) who were ex army dentists who liked to experiment on people.

But he didn’t say anything about neglecting his teeth Bigbertha and maw he said he WOULD continue looking after them just not have any cosmetic or big procedures
I agree I think I m lucky to still have most of my teeth in my late 70 s but I would never consider expensive implants (which would only get a few years use) if I was to lose any front teeth I would have a bridge like most of my friends have and would be more than adequate for the few years I ve got left
Both mum and dad had their own teeth when they died in their early 90 s Dad had a few back teeth missing and had about 4 on a plate or bridge or something that would be good enough for me

Allsortsofbags I agree with you about water flossers. I’ve used one for several years.
Having spent a lot of money over the years on private dentistry, I don’t think my teeth are in particularly good condition. Although my current dentist is wonderful. However, in years gone by my teeth have been extensively filled, I doubt if it was all necessary as I’ve only ever had toothache once. When I did have toothache the dentist took out the healthy tooth, which I had to pay for! He then root canal filled the problem tooth, which a couple of years later cracked down to the root! All of which has been expensive, but what do l know about dentistry? We have to assume we’re getting good treatment and value for money.

My Mum is 85 and has all her own teeth.. attends for nhs checks ups 6 monthly.... I hope to follow in her footsteps..... we are lucky that all my family have an NHS dentist ..... I use interdental brushes daily ....i pay for private hygienist yearly( at my nhs dental practice) ..... I have bone infusions that could cause jaw necrosis if I don't take care of my teeth.. the thought terrifies me

When we lived in England we had the choice of 4 NHS dentists within our area. From childhood I had six monthly check ups.I am 77 and still have all my teeth. Moving to Wales you cannot get an NHS dentist for love nor money, so we have had to go private. I’m not having all my teeth fall out now.

I go to the dentist for regular check ups and also 4 times a year to the hygienist to prevent possible gum disease. Yes it doesn’t come cheap but it’s essential health care and will hopefully prevent problems in the future.

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I've been doing that all my life . I have a lifetime fear of dentists so I go as little as possible, and if I've had to go because of severe pain, I've had the tooth removed and that's that. I do look after them, floss and brush and mouthwash twice every day. And at 73 I've got almost of my adult teeth, and the gaps are not noticeable, being at the back.

I'd guess that my last dental visit was at least 10 years ago , and all my teeth are intact and in good shape. So I'm pretty happy that my cunning plan of never seeing the dentist, is working well !

greenlady102

MayBeMaw

If a simple bridge doesn't work then I'll have a gap. However if it was front teeth I would bite the bullet and have an implant although I hate the thought

Might be difficult! (Biting, I mean) .

Its not as easy as Oh I will have an implant...(experience) you need good bone density for implants to work and one of the things letting teeth rot in your mouth does is reduce bone density...as does meopause, age and so on as well as the genetic aspects. I had a failed implant due to leaving it too late to have the procedure...its an expensive way to end up with a gap.

My implant failed during Covid and I was on antibiotics on and off for a year through my dentist. I ended up referring myself to a private oral surgeon who was brilliant but very expensive and the extract was a horrible experience. It totally upset my digestive system and I spent months suffering with TMJ.