Poland: worst teeth in the world?

Can anyone explain this disturbing chart?



Is there something wrong with Slavic teeth?

If you believed the cr*p you read on here, you would think Britain has the worst teeth - well, that's what they keep telling us on here, anyway!

Well, The Economist is a British rag. Perhaps this is state propaganda...

According to Reuters article Americans are the "coolest" people in the world while Poles are the least 'cool' next to Belgians, Turks, Germans and Canadaians :D

THE 10 COOLEST NATIONALITIES

1. Americans
2. Brazilians
3. Spanish
4. Italians
5. French
6. British
7. Dutch
8. Mexicans
9. Argentinians
10. Russians

FIVE LEAST COOL
1. Belgians
2. Poles
3. Turks
4. Canadians
5. Germans

uk.reuters.com/article/2011/09/06/oukoe-uk-americans-cool-survey-idUKTRE7852GB20110906

Haha. Well, I think one thing is for sure: the world is united in its view that there are no people anywhere who are less cool than the Germans.

It's probably Britain that's number one. Really.

Someone's been watching too many sitcoms/simpsons episodes. In reality the UK (as proved by the OECD, who are the source in the chart up top and are independent) has the best dental health in the world.

The difference between American dental health and UK dental health is about appearance. In the US attention is paid more to having straight, white teeth. Whereas in the UK, attention is paid to the health of the individual teeth and not about overall appearance. Hence the UK have less decays and gum disease, while the US have attention on straight and white teeth...your choice which you prefer from a dentist.

Ok, but what about Polish teeth? What's so wrong with them that they top this list?

Good point, and sorry to all for going not just off topic, but off forum. I think the problem is that, while Americans and other people where dental treatment isn't heavily subsidised, in Poland (for people on a "normal" salary) dental care is not hugely cheap. I know when I was there and working on basic wages, I could think of a good few things I could spend my wages on that wasn't the Dentist (just to note, those things were food, rent and transport...then I was skint). That could be a reason why Poland (and other countries in the region) suffer from bad teeth.

This isn't a dig at Poland, this is just an observation from working at (just) above minimum wage.

That makes sense, but then we have South Korea, which is generally known to be one of the richer countries, listed as the 4th-worst.

My lady is Polish and she has many, many fillings (former cavities). She often complains about the poor quality of the dentists in Poland, as basically being medical quacks with bad judgment and sketchy business practices. Routinely she is having her Polish fillings replaced with ones from my country.

Richer because people think of Seoul, there is a BIG divide between rich and poor in Korea. Where my Dad lives he has spotty broadband, most people work in a yard where they work about 60-70 hours a week for minimum wage to support their families living on the breadline. On the yard my Dad works in there are about 200,00 people working and it's the smallest...

...make your assumptions from there.

That chart doesn't have so much to do with dental care provided by dentists as it does the teeth of 12 year olds. Kids can go to the dentist once every 6 months and need fillings every time. The chart isn't clear on how much is decay and how much are fillings. In order to receive a filling, the kid would need to see a dentist first which means they have access to care.

Apparently, something is causing the teeth of Polish kids to go bad early. Could be lack of dental hygeine or poor diet. Could be genetic resulting in weakened enamel. Parents might not be teaching kids to care for their teeth properly.

I did when I was young even though I brushed twice/three times a day.


You are right, it could be any of them. I think PF should commission a study...or someone should, I guess we are not a scientific organisation (which some people on forum (not you) seem to forget).

Brushing isn't always enough. You have to brush the gums around each tooth for 16 seconds. Then you floss or use a paroxa brush between the teeth.

Something I learned the hard way recently when I had to get 12 fillings and a wisdom tooth out because I was never told to floss. Not a pleasant afternoon I can tell you!

Worst teeth in the world? Go look at some third world countries. They have it much worse.

Worst teeth just look at Africa.

Worst teeth among the Western World. I always thought the Brits had the worst teeth (no offense). Then I see the chart and it rates then first? Travesty!

Okay but to be fair 'decayed' or missing teeth is only 2 characters of teeth being bad... thats not exactly precise.

Something is fishy about that chart.

legend wrote:


what a surprise. a bunch of people living in mud huts have bad teeth. come on, people.

it was one of the first things i noticed about polish people when i moved there. awful teeth.

Have you ever been to Britain and looked?

Never saw a kid with black teeth in my life until I came to Poland. I don't know if it's a lack of oral hygiene or the extreme amount of sugar kids are allowed to eat. Probably both.

Funny. I hear the opposite regularly - that Irish & British dentists are Sh1te and that Polish dentists are fantastic. Same for all healthcare.

Nice chart for ammmunition though - thanks Chrysalis : )


Totally agree - and surprised that this point isn't made more often.

In my experience Polish dentists are very good. A couple of years ago I needed to have a broken front tooth capped. My dentist suggested having both front teeth done, which made sense. After about ten long (well, they seemed long) sessions I paid 1000PLN for two porcelain caps and all the work. How much would that have been elsewhere?

A friend's husband was quoted 2000GBP for some dental work in the UK. He came here and had a good job done for 400PLN.

Well, you say they are good but then seem to go on to illustrate that they are cheap - not the same thing.

Anyway, cheap for a tourist is not the same thing at all.

Why can't they be both good and cheap?

Yes, it's possible but no evidence so far on this thread.

Bad teeth is a hallmark of eastern Europe.You know you are in the right place when you see this.Gorgeous face,long shaped legs with rotten teeth.In my opinion it is due to the dental care which is private and cannot be afforded,the habit of eating sweets all the time and a genetic predisposition.Fact when I am with polish girls my teeth also go downhill and the dentist suggested me to avoid them.When I stop seeing them he gives me congratulations for my care.Also to notice a joke by one of my Polki:I broke one more teeth.When I lose them all,I will give you better BJs.

How could it be measured? I can offer only anecdotal evidence from my own experience. My dentist told me that in the summertime most of her patients are foreigners from Germany and Sweden. Health tourism is a fast-growing sector in PL. A while ago I helped a Kraków company with their brochure. They offer package holidays including operations and other medical procedures.

By the quality of a nation's teeth maybe? Oh wait a minute ; )


Of course, relatively speaking, dentists are expensive in Germany & Sweden.

Certain products & services are cheaper in Northern Ireland than they are south of the border - and vice versa. People cross the border in both directions to avail of these - not because they are any better (or worse for that matter) but because they are cheaper.

Look, I'm not being awkward teflcat and I have no expereince of Polish dentists myself but so far, we have:

Supposedly worst teeth in Europe
Three posters (inc a Pole) saying how bad polish dentists are

Doesn't look great.

Ukrainian teeth are even worse than polish and the ukrainian raw fish does not help.