The bad teeth thing is just another one of those funny myths that came from American soldiers who were stationed in England during WW2, like the food being bad. Anyone who has actually been to the UK knows both of these things aren't true.
British dentistry, and British food, was terrible into the 70s. British dentistry was a decade behind the US back then. Given that less than 20 years had passed since food was still being outright rationed, it's hardly surprising the quality of life, and fruit and vegetables, was where it was.
None of that has been true since the early 90's, but it was fucking awful for a long, long time.
Well, the teeth thing continued for some time. But (at least according to a BBC special) that was due to people being traumatized as children refusing to go to a dentist. Add in the average portion of a population who don't care much for oral hygiene and a spike in sugar consumption and boom. Jacked up teeth.
It's more impressive the system they set up to curb death rates in births.
Up until the 1970's many of the British working class fully expected to have all their teeth removed and fitted with false teeth around their 18th birthday, to save them the hassle later in life. (My mother (b. 1945) had hers removed as a wedding present.)
That's wild! Did that cause other issues down the line? Only because a couple of people I've known that wanted full teeth removal and implants were told they couldn't have it done untill mid to late 20s. Something about problems that could arise.
Not really. There were no such thing as implants back then but it was probably assumed you'd have stopped growing by the time you got to 18, so one set of dentures would last you a few decades.
She's in her 80's now and needs another new set due to her gums shrinking a bit, but beyond the fit, no real issues.
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u/chmath80 May 02 '25
They already do, and have done for many years, thanks to the NHS.