Gum Job

One way or another we pay for our teeth. You either pay for them by being consigned to foods that can pass through a straw, by being forced to wear dentures or through the nose when you try to fix em whether retroactively or proactively. 

During my recent UK visit I was actually as shocked as a real American; I guess I am the gone native type now?

Maybe my values are changing?

A few years ago I decided that my own British teeth could no longer be presented in polite society. It has cost a fortune and no little pain to get them partially sorted but there is more to go. There were times I felt guilty at the money but at the same time I also felt there was nothing I could do other than cover up a lifetime of neglect.  In Britain I had a rag bag of treatments from assorted dentists over the years that had left me with mismatched crowns, veneers, filings and ultimately missing teeth.

Though I don't want Brits to be all fake-baked tanned and brilliant white pearlies I cannot understand why even people who can afford it don't fix their chompers.  

Just a few weeks ago I was giving a speech where I made a typically near to the bone joke in front of Americans when I pleaded for them to stop making British dental failures the butt of their jokes, accused them of being racist and then told them to pick on the Chinese instead.  At the back of my mind I guess I was thinking, 'British teeth not as bad as everyone says' in just the same way that I try valiantly to convince people that it doesn't rain that much and that food in Britain has improved immeasurably.  

I only really see people reluctantly agree with the food comments.  They might be right, can't fix the rain but you can spend a little less at the pub and make your gnashers less of a public health hazard.