Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

moodymonster · Dec 5, 2006, 06:23 PM

why do Americans think Brits have bad teeth?

I know Austin Powers sent it up, but I've never seen anyone with teeth like that in the UK and was just wondering where the idea comes from.

Saetre · Dec 5, 2006, 06:26 PM

You guys do have bad teeth, at least compared to Americans. Lots of Americans who would otherwise have very bad teeth have them corrected while younger using braces or surgery. You guys don't seem to be so into that.

Atomic Rooster · Dec 5, 2006, 06:27 PM

From watching British movies from the 50's and 60's.

moodymonster · Dec 5, 2006, 06:46 PM

British people have braces as well, we do have orthodontics here - imagine it must be available on the NHS as well, especially for children.

mitchell_pgh · Dec 5, 2006, 06:52 PM

Fluorinated Water

RAILhead · Dec 5, 2006, 06:53 PM

Every British chick I've seen has nasty teeth.

Dark Helmet · Dec 5, 2006, 06:54 PM

Ya my friend lived there for a year and she said for the most part they do have pretty bad teeth. Apparently they just don't consider nice teeth important.

Saetre · Dec 5, 2006, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by moodymonster

British people have braces as well, we do have orthodontics here - imagine it must be available on the NHS as well, especially for children.

I realize that you have them. Perhaps they aren't used as often. The difference is very real. There must be some explanation.

Rumor · Dec 5, 2006, 07:00 PM

Jawbone54 · 07:04 PM

This thread needed some Craig Ferguson love...

[EDIT] - You must click here.

Rumor · Dec 5, 2006, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Every British chick I've seen has nasty teeth.

Uh.....

Atomic Rooster · Dec 5, 2006, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by Rumor

Uh.....

She has claw marks on her tits!

Saetre · Dec 5, 2006, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by Atomic Rooster

She has claw marks on her tits!

Another British hallmark.

Kevin · Dec 5, 2006, 07:20 PM

ShortcutToMoncton · Dec 5, 2006, 07:28 PM

Oh, Kate Beckinsale is so, so, so, so, so, effin' hot.

greg

residentEvil · Dec 5, 2006, 07:31 PM

it happens to be a stereotype that has lasted for several generations. while not always true, most stereotypes have some truth to them and it has since carried on.

pick any documentary run on discovery or such that is from that part of the world and the experts they have on all have bad teeth.

okay; so that isn't 100% true; but as you will find it is more often true than not. hence the stereotype.

Apple Pro Underwear · Dec 5, 2006, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by Atomic Rooster

She has claw marks on her tits!

whoops, my fingerprints after i groped her in a downward motion!

________

anyway, you're saying the same thing as:

"asians all are good at math"
"black people are all good at sports"
"white people have no rhythm"

let's stop with the stereotypes people!

Rumor · Dec 5, 2006, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by Apple Pro Underwear

whoops, my fingerprints after i groped her in a downward motion!

________

anyway, you're saying the same thing as:

"asians all are good at math"
"black people are all good at sports"
"white people have no rhythm"

let's stop with the stereotypes people!

You beat me to it.

Mastrap · Dec 5, 2006, 07:40 PM

It is true to a degree. Since I've been living in Canada I've become way more aware of the difference in dentistry - North Americans have better teeth. Not cleaner, not better hygiene, just better cared for. I'll be getting a tooth fixed next year that I would have happily lived with in the UK.

Mediaman_12 · Dec 5, 2006, 07:43 PM

It may be that there isn't a culture of going to the dentist 'for fun'. Most people would only think of visiting a dentist when they have toothache, mostly (I think) due to them having bad experiences with them as a child. Also even though everyone in the UK is entitled to subsidised (or free, if you are on benefits) Dental care, on the NHS. There isn't enough Dentists taking on NHS patients (there was a recent story of people queuing up overnight, to get on a dentists 'books' who was taking on more NHS work).

Mastrap · Dec 5, 2006, 07:48 PM

When I was living in the UK I always had to pay for dental care. Only with my last dentist the subject of 'hey, we can fix this crooked tooth' came up. Before that, nothing.

Kevin · Dec 5, 2006, 07:53 PM

I think American may be more superficial when it comes to such things. I am not so sure that is "better"

d4nth3m4n · Dec 5, 2006, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by Rumor

Uh.....

awesome boob job stretch marks.

even more awesome hotlinking though.

Mastrap · Dec 5, 2006, 11:14 PM

Probably pregnancy - she had a daughter in 1999.

demograph68 · Dec 5, 2006, 11:41 PM

Originally Posted by d4nth3m4n

even more awesome hotlinking though.

good luck with pointing that out here. Oh and those teeth had to have been dodged and desaturated with some photoshop magic. they stand out way too much.

d4nth3m4n · Dec 6, 2006, 12:12 AM

guess i'm just as guilty, huh?

rlinhares · Dec 6, 2006, 12:21 AM

guinnes X Buds

Spliffdaddy · Dec 6, 2006, 12:49 AM

If I didn't do it, somebody else would have.

ShortcutToMoncton · Dec 6, 2006, 01:22 AM

Oh no you didn't!

demograph68 · Dec 6, 2006, 01:29 AM

while you're at it, you should give her back her real nose.

Apple Pro Underwear · Dec 6, 2006, 01:32 AM

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton

Oh no you didn't!

perfect reply! that was funny

Rumor · Dec 6, 2006, 03:38 AM

So now there is a problem with hotlinking?

forkies · Dec 6, 2006, 03:45 AM

japanese people too. i never realized how much having nice teeth are important to me until i came here and saw some of the most krunked up teeth ever.

Tiresias · Dec 6, 2006, 05:46 AM

And an American is a rich, overfed philistine seen at popular tourist spots chewing gum and wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt. He has 4 cameras around his neck and a "fanny pack". He points to things he likes and says: "Can I buy that? Why it's just the snappiest thing out! The whole pie with jam in it!"

Why does any cultural stereotype exist?

Doofy · Dec 6, 2006, 05:50 AM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

Probably pregnancy - she had a daughter in 1999.

And they're plastic too - might have something to do with it.

vexborg · Dec 6, 2006, 05:56 AM

I've been living in Scotland for almost 5 years now, and I've never had any cavities before I came over here! Why, I do not know, but I suspect that it is due to the "crisps and cola culture" - most of the stuff you buy over here is full of sugar...

Of course I could just stop eating sugar filled stuff, but strangely enough I ate the same back in Denmark, and as mentioned before, never had any cavities.

Dental checks? Well, I have the same number of checks with my dentist as I had in Denmark, so either my dentist is rather sloppy when doing the job, or something else is behind it?

Big Mac · Dec 6, 2006, 06:00 AM

That's interesting, vexborg. I would have thought European countries would discourage sugar consumption or at least consume less per capita than America.

moodymonster · Dec 6, 2006, 06:17 AM

Germany is the land of chocolate

vexborg · Dec 6, 2006, 06:18 AM

Originally Posted by Big Mac

That's interesting, vexborg. I would have thought European countries would discourage sugar consumption or at least consume less per capita than America.

Indeed one would think so, and I actually think most of the Europen countries do so, but there seem to be an exception for United Kingdom.

Big Mac · Dec 6, 2006, 06:19 AM

Originally Posted by moodymonster

Germany is the land of chocolate

Homer: "The land of Choclate. . . la la, la la la la la, la la la la la la la la. . . ."

That may be true, but then why is America supposedly the land of diabetes?

Mastrap · Dec 6, 2006, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

And they're plastic too - might have something to do with it.

Except, she's a very outspoken opponent to plastic surgery and on the record about her refusal to have any. But never mind.

Doofy · Dec 6, 2006, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

Except, she's a very outspoken opponent to plastic surgery and on the record about her refusal to have any. But never mind.

Dude, trust me - they're implants.

Next you'll be telling me that she hasn't got a bald patch caused by hair extensions.

ShortcutToMoncton · Dec 6, 2006, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Dude, trust me - they're implants.

Next you'll be telling me that she hasn't got a bald patch caused by hair extensions.

It's possible I suppose, but those are natural stretch marks. I've never seen anything to indicate they weren't real....

greg

ghporter · Dec 6, 2006, 11:19 AM

I think there's a difference between North American dentistry and British dentistry in terms of the impression of what preventive dentistry does. If you can get the worst of problems fixed without any out of pocket expense, there's less attention paid to preventing the problems to begin with-at least in the individual's mind. Over here, an annual or semi-annual cleaning and exam is pretty standard, and bad problems are often avoided or minimized through this kind of preventive program.

My teeth are horrible. Because of a really bad bite, I have almost no surface enamel on my lower incisors, and problems with some of my uppers. It wasn't until I was thirty or so that a dentist said "maybe you should have braces-it might correct your bite." It did. Note that this was while I was in the Air Force and had complete, 100% full coverage dentistry free of charge-just not free orthodontia. As it turned out I got about half the orthodontia covered by the Air Force because I was reassigned to a base that had a teaching hospital that included orthodontia...

But they're healthy and clean because I get 'em looked at every six months and I brush like a madman twice a day.

Kate's assets look fine to me. Those marks give 'em character. And knowing she's a mother means that she "knows a thing or two" as well

Jawbone54 · Dec 6, 2006, 11:59 AM

My teeth are straight (except for a little bit of grouping at the bottom). I've never had braces, so I was fortunate in that regard. They're also very clean. Flossing and brushing often is the key. I had cavities as a kid, but haven't had another in 10+ years.

Unfortunately, even though my teeth are straight, my canines are pretty sharp, so they appear kind of "fang-like," which results in this...

I'd have dealt with braces for two years if it meant that my teeth would all be flat. They say that you can file them down over the span of several years, but man it hurts every time the dentist does that. To be honest, it really doesn't bother me that I don't have perfect teeth, even though my wife's teeth are literally flawless. She's only dental works she's ever required was braces, and they gleaming white. Okay, yeah I wish my teeth were like hers.

Mastrap · Dec 6, 2006, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton

It's possible I suppose, but those are natural stretch marks. I've never seen anything to indicate they weren't real....

greg

She had anorexia as a young girl. Ever since recovering from it she's been a real activist about positive body image and the evils of plastic surgery. So, I doubt very much that she's got anything done herself.

As I've said above, looks just like marks from a pregnancy. The flash was a little bit cruel there, highlighting something you'd normally wouldn't see.

Jawbone54 · Dec 6, 2006, 12:06 PM

This thread has gone breast mark crazy.

Doofy · Dec 6, 2006, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton

It's possible I suppose, but those are natural stretch marks. I've never seen anything to indicate they weren't real....

Natural stretch marks, yes. But trust me, I've been observing Kate's breasts (and the size change thereof) for a long time. And I know implants when I see them.

Jawbone54 · Dec 6, 2006, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

But trust me, I've been observing Kate's breasts (and the size change thereof) for a long time

Let's all just sit back and reflect on that statement.

ShortcutToMoncton · Dec 6, 2006, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

Let's all just sit back and reflect on that statement.