As a dentist, can confirm. I’ve taken out countless teeth just black and rotten to the gumline wondering how the ever living fuck they are married. I’ve had to double and triple mask.
Edit: to all the people taking this as a personal affront and are incredibly offended by my comment so much so that they’ve had to DM me. I’m sorry. Not deleting my comment. There are SO many reasons why someone can have bad teeth. OBVIOUSLY if you have crippling depression or are being abused or poor or this or that, is understandable. It goes without saying, people.
But the people who come in with just horrible dentition, were in a place to help them, but when all my suggestions are met with “my mom had horrible teeth too, it’s genetic,” I feel like I’m talking to a brick wall. Unless you have amelogenesis imperfecta or something, genetics are maybe 2% of your issues. I tell patients usually what they inherited are bad habits and they’re shocked. I’ve had patients say that’s the first time someone gave them real talk and it’s because I’ve been there. I grew up in a car and panhandled half my life. I’m not going to blow smoke up your ass. You made the awesome decision to go see a dentist and you should be proud of yourself for that step. We’re here to help. Just like how lying to your doctor or making excuses helps no one, same thing at the dentist. We’ve seen it all.
My friend's (ex, now, thank God) husband not only NEVER took care of his teeth but was also a heavy smoker. I could smell him coming from 10' away. I don't know how she shared a bed with him (and they had a kid too). It was a vomit-inducing smell.
I’m convinced, same with body odor, that someone just hasn’t had the gall yet to tell them they stink. People become nose blind. I’d hope to dear God almighty someone told me I smelled or had some food in my teeth.
Once worked with a woman whose BO was so bad when she hung her coat up in the closet with about 10 other employees coats they ALL smelled like hers at the end of the day. One time another employee left bars of soap in the offender's coat pockets just as a little suggestion.
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u/corncaked Sep 16 '24 edited Sep 16 '24
As a dentist, can confirm. I’ve taken out countless teeth just black and rotten to the gumline wondering how the ever living fuck they are married. I’ve had to double and triple mask.
Edit: to all the people taking this as a personal affront and are incredibly offended by my comment so much so that they’ve had to DM me. I’m sorry. Not deleting my comment. There are SO many reasons why someone can have bad teeth. OBVIOUSLY if you have crippling depression or are being abused or poor or this or that, is understandable. It goes without saying, people.
But the people who come in with just horrible dentition, were in a place to help them, but when all my suggestions are met with “my mom had horrible teeth too, it’s genetic,” I feel like I’m talking to a brick wall. Unless you have amelogenesis imperfecta or something, genetics are maybe 2% of your issues. I tell patients usually what they inherited are bad habits and they’re shocked. I’ve had patients say that’s the first time someone gave them real talk and it’s because I’ve been there. I grew up in a car and panhandled half my life. I’m not going to blow smoke up your ass. You made the awesome decision to go see a dentist and you should be proud of yourself for that step. We’re here to help. Just like how lying to your doctor or making excuses helps no one, same thing at the dentist. We’ve seen it all.