"A Nation of People with Bad Teeth"

In 1940 the author George Orwell called the British, "A nation of people with bad teeth." Sugery tea may have been the culprit but today tooth decay among 12 year olds in England is among the lowest in Europe. But a survey this month of English dental patients and dentists showed that the British have a predilection for do-it-yourself dentistry. Six percent of English patients admitted to self-treatment. One took out 14 of his teeth with pliers and another used Super Glue to re-cement a crown. This self-treatment may be a result of a shortage of dentists offering dental services through the National Health Service – and the long wait time to get an appointment.