so ashamed of teeth!

The actress Brenda Blethyn had all her teeth out at age 21: it was a 21st birthday present from her parents. It happened a lot in the old days - not that she's all that old. I have a sister in law who also lost all her teeth at 11, 'cos her Mum gave her too many sweets, soft drinks, and sugary things, so she's had false ones since then.

I eventually lost all mine, starting at age 48 and ending at around 60, so I've had partials and now a full set. They look great, and save a huge amount on dentist bills!!! What's even better, when I need new ones I get them free under the Australian system for us oldies.

I did feel ashamed when I lost the last lot: I was finishing my late-in-life degree, surrounded by mainly young 'us with terrific teeth, but I soon realised no-one had the slightest idea about my lack of real teeth. Anyway, my adult teeth always had soft enamel: the school dentist warned my Mum I would probably lose them all in middle age. He was right.

young 'uns
(bloody auto-correct)

apologies for slow update, I went straight to bed when got home thursday as felt very shaky, however for any of you who may have to have the same the actual experience was quite pain free it was more my reaction I sort of went all shocked and trembly, my mouth today still feels a bit raw but the plus side is I can smile properly which is wonderful. I have always envied people who can throw their heads back and laugh now I can do just that.

Thank you all so much for your kind replies, I felt supported and so much more normal as I rather thought before other people would think I had poor hygiene I realize now that was stupid!

Well done filly - you did good

Er, Brenda Blethin - old I've had NHS treatment all my life and she is not that much older than me.

what chance did we of our ages have as youngsters? All dentistry had intervention then, many of us have mouths like battleships with the edges of original teeth hanging on by a wing and a prayer. We were so glad to have sweetness back into out lives when small, sugar sandwiches and toddlers sucking on rosehip syrup in a dinky feeder.

Don`t blame yourself anyone, I don`t blame myself, wish I had a good row of teeth but such was life. Dentistry today is very different and is all about being gentle and pain free.

There was no fluoride in the water, or fluoride toothpaste, when my generation were young - I'm sure these have made a big difference to younger people's teeth. People are also much more conscious of too much sugar. Flossing and the little interdental brushes weren't at all common either.

Mind you I'm sure some of it's down to genes. My mother's teeth were never brilliant at all and yet her younger sister - same upbringing, same diet etc. - had practically perfect teeth until she died in her mid 80s.

My mother finally lost nearly all of hers - which she'd been grimly hanging on to - but that was down to dementia, since she would no,longer brush her teeth or allow anyone else to, so the build up of plaque and consequent gum disease finished them off. However she was into her 90s by then and had advanced dementia, so was past caring.