Health

DIY dentistry: 1 million Brits yank out their own teeth

by LotusFlower | February 12, 2009 at 10:24 am

413 views | 49 Recommendations | 9 comments

Over the last few years it has become increasingly difficult for patients to access NHS dentistry in the UK resulting in the deterioration in the health of teeth across Britain and especially amongst the poor.

This new research shows the extent of the problem with millions of Brits taking to DIY dentistry.

Three million hard-up people have been forced into dangerous DIY dentistry, it was revealed yesterday.

A million have pulled out teeth with pliers or string tied to a door knob. Others have fixed crowns with household glue, burst ulcers with a pin, tried to mend or alter dentures and stuck down loose fillings with chewing gum.

And three in 10 DIY dentists have tried whitening their teeth with household cleaning products.

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Amy Judd

at 12:32 on February 12th, 2009

I can't belive the string tied to the door knob actually works.

Terri Potratz

at 12:55 on February 12th, 2009

Ouch.

mudricky

at 14:25 on February 12th, 2009

I have the dentist on Tuesday, maybe I'll save myself money and do it myself... mmm then again maybe not =:-)

Jordan Yerman

at 14:39 on February 12th, 2009

Leonard once said,

"I hate the term 'citizen journalists.' You won't find that term on NowPublic. Do we talk about citizen dentists?"

The answer is apparently "yes".

Amy Judd

at 14:42 on February 12th, 2009

Haha!

Rachel Nixon

at 15:07 on February 12th, 2009

NHS dentistry is in such a mess. To me it's unfortunate that people are in a situation that they have to resort to DIY dentistry, but not at all surprising. It's really hard to find an NHS dentist these days, and dentists who practice privately are really expensive.

I remember seeing on the national news a few years ago a story about a new NHS dentist who had opened up in the north of England and such was demand that the queue stretched for hundreds of yards - just to sign up!

mudricky

at 15:35 on February 12th, 2009

I've never really had a problem where I stay, West Central Scotland to be honest. I know there is problems but I've never witnessed them.

Roy C

at 18:27 on February 12th, 2009

Floss after every meal, brush twice a day and use a flouride rinse. If everyone did that, they probably could lay off the state dentists.

But, this is such a problem. When what we earn is next to nothing we can neither pay for our own dentist or doctor nor can we afford as a nation to pay for it from our taxes.

Poor means poor.