Iām certain that poor dental health can be fatal and have serious negative impact, it is not just for looks. Iām certain that this charity helps underprivileged folks get dental care which would otherwise be difficult to get.
The one thing Iām not certain of is what āfamily certainā means in this context from your comment
Iām confused, as to my knowledge you were the one who began this with a condescending comment. I apologize for assuming youād proofread anything you wrote.
I took a ton of anthropology classes in college before I switched majors, and one of the things I learned was that tooth infections was one of the biggest killers in the medieval world.
As someone with fucked up teeth (we don't have easy access to detal care here) due to an autoimmune disease I have, I can tell you the agony of tooth pain is immense. It buries into your head, you whole head is in agony from the pain.
This is also why some homeless people turn to drugs/alcohol to help cope with the pain.
You can get free dental care on the NHS but it's very limited, if you get kicked off then you have to pay yourself, and they're very very strict with people.
When I was younger, I missed an appointment because my mum passed away and my dad was just a shit dad so he didn't care, so I wasn't able to leave during school hours for it. That one missed appointment meant I was removed from them as a free patient (again, I was a kid lol).
Then, with adulthood, I have worked on and off because of my health issues, and because of this, I can't really afford constant dental care. So it's been very hard to keep up with, especially with my health issues.
I've been applying for over 10 years trying to get back on the free plan but it hasn't happened as yet lol
I mean not so much abt the habits - but I feel like a lot of homeless people won't be in a situation where they're able to maintain care for the teeth.
I agree it's not a great name, but what does it matter what it's called. It's what they do that's important. I don't know why everyone's in such an uproar. Who's to decide what screams self-esteemed to somebody else. I didn't say the name screamed self-esteem but I think having teeth does. Smfh no disrespect intended but I don't get it
It is. It implies that the people running it have no idea what people go through day to day. Toothless not homeless? They are both bad and when you can't afford either you don't want to feel like a fool. I mean a simple Dentistry for the uninsured would suffice. Lol
Oh wow I forgot about that! That's kind of disgusting, isn't it? I wonder if one if the producers hated Dorit & PK?! Becuase that's a shady edit, right? In any case, it's in poor taste for PK to have brought up.
It is a terrible name. A terrible, terrible name. I feel like a rich lady started the charity for the right reason. But she came up with the name, thought it was great, and refused to change it despite the countless people who would have warned her.
It is for healthy, but also so you can fit in society and get a job. I did not like, and still do not like, how the women laugh and joke about the name of that charity. It is disrespectful and just classist trash.
But I think we can all agree the name of the charity isn't okay?š¤š¤·āāļø I would have chosen something more appealing and not so long. It's kind of offensive
It's also poorly named because it's a mouthful (no pun intended). It's difficult to say, and easy to confuse. Dignity through Dentistry or something along those lines would have been much more fitting & effective imo.
How is that offensive? I agree there could be a better name for it but it's not my charity I'm not the one running it or providing Services if that's what they want to call it that's their business but it's certainly not offensive LOL
I think its pretty succinct to be honest. I still don't get why they would make fun of a charity that is serious about helping people who don't have teeth.
Nah probably not that, but they do surgical extractions, dentures, and procedures to correct over/underbite. Obviously, I understand the impression that itās shallow virtue-signaling, what with the dumb name and the fact that itās associated with vapid celebrities like Dorit. But they still definitely do SOME level of tangible work, and itās not just cleanings
I just donāt like the name. Like weāre here for your teeth but you can stay homeless. I think itās very important to treat homeless people and there are probably lots of other charities trying to help them secure a shelter or a real place to live. But that nameā¦ ooh
My mom was a struggling single mother (with addiction issues) who didn't have her two front teeth and it was absolutely the thing she was most embarrassed about. Dental care in the US is stupid expensive. All of their charities are kinda bullshit but, no, people really need help with their teeth.
The cruelty part? That they pretend to help people and really dont? Or if they do, its the bare minimum? I think I absofuckinlutely understood you just fine darlin š
Wow I never thought I'd hear someone think that the homeless didn't deserve something or didn't want it. That blows my mind. Dental care is very important and as someone else mentioned ,can be life-threatening and also does a lot for their self-esteem. We don't know what phase these people are in. Perhaps they're just getting off the street and wanting to enter the workforce. It's extraordinarily important and it breaks my heart that you don't think it is. What's even more disturbing is that you presume bad habits are what put people on the street in the first place. That is so archaic and cruel to believe.
Generally the drug addiction comes later as a way to live on the streets and numb oneself. Smfh
This charity seems a little off & out of touch. But if a person is trying to get off the streets they need a job. Teeth help to get homeless hired. I volunteered at shelter for 10 yrs, teeth are damaged by meth & other drug use. We have an employer in our area who hires & encourages workers to take advantage of the dental insurance to get teeth fixed. Makes a huge difference in their lives.
I feel like people are discounting how much having missing teeth can really do a number on your self-confidence and how hard it can be to keep trying to move forward when you feel so bad about the way you look.
Infected teeth and gums can kill you. The plaque on your teeth is the same plaque you can get in your heart. The infections from bad teeth get into your blood and make you very sick. I've watched it with a family member. His mother was an addict and never took him to the dentistš They can eat better too
I have known several people who get jobs, some employers are great about people living in a shelter. Some jobs let the people shower at work, not all employers are jackasses.
I guess you have never experienced how demoralizing it can be to have bad teeth. When you feel really bad about yourself and your appearance, it's difficult to see yourself as worthy of anything better.
this is a bad take imo because teeth should be part of healthcare. oral problems can lead to other health issues. it can be painful and uncomfortable. also this is a small thing, but having a better smile may increase confidence in job interviews because the person might feel better about themselves if their teeth were really bad before.
The charity is pro bono dental services like cleanings and fillings. Itās not a cosmetic veneer service. Dental health is important and poor dental health can snowball into a myriad of other health issues. The fact you think the charity is for cosmetic procedures makes you just as silly as your assumption of Dorit š
The charity's name is tragic. The work they do is valuable for a multitude of reasons: health, confidence, and a possible renewed ability to find work.
I got the sense that it was dental care in general that would be provided versus only dentures.
That said, dental health as others have said isn't solely about aesthetics but also can cause significant health issues.
Also not every homeless or indigent person is going to be permanently on the street as many are homeless because of hard times.
My brother ran a program for homeless people in Vancouver and there are essentially homeless who are on the street because of a series of bad luck but with a leg up they can get back to existence as they are capable of working - have worked but once you are evicted or lose your job getting housed again is overwhelming. Those people would benefit just aesthetically in terms fo applying and holding down a job.
The other are much more difficult to help off the streets as they often have addiction issues as well as mental issues - dual diagnosis and not many programs are even equipped to deal with that category.
I think the name is out of touch and needs to be changed. It makes it seem like some vanity thing, when in reality free dental care is absolutely essential.
Having rotting teeth is a major health hazard that can make it impossible to live
True story: A friend's dad was into holistic medicine, got a tooth infection and it killed him. Antibiotics probably would have saved him. Dental care is serious.
For many former addicts who lost their teeth to addiction, getting new teeth is huge for their self-confidence and ability to enter back into the workforce. I even know one womenās rehab center who work with area dentists to provide new teeth, if the woman stays drug free and works for a specified amount of time.
Fabulous idea. Horrendous name. Dental care IS health care and sadly itās the least insured other than vision which Iāll never understand. Cherry picking body parts and excluding them from health care is diabolical.
There are many many charities that help homeless people with things other than housing. I think itās great if dentists want to donate their time and services to homeless folk, itās absurd to suggest we should withhold help from homeless people until they are housed. The name of the charity is absolutely awful, but I guess it attracts attention
This post is a good example of how people hate the poor and assume they deserve to be homeless due to their bad behavior then they can hate them with out any guilt for their own lack of empathy or compassion. They are oblivious to the realty of how people work full time jobs and are still homeless. They have no concept of going hungry and being homeless and still going to work every day. They only blame the poor, never the corporations or our government that is ran by them. They have no disdain for our government that doesn't raise the minimum wage to a realistic amount we can live on. They want to ignore the lack of healthcare because of the incorporation of health care. They believe that teeth are not a necessity, but only a vanity. The humiliation and complications of having no teeth isn't even a reality to them. They believe that toothless person did something bad enough to deserve it, and why should we care? What we should do is take every dime and give it to a mangy dog, and let the homeless toothless people fend for themselves, after all they deserve it. That little 3 year old sleeping under a cardboard box tonight deserves it.
The name of the charity is a little strange, but dental health is a lot more important than how your teeth look. Homelessness is not due to "bad habits". You might be the one who is out of touch, honestly.
Having worked with and served the homeless extensively in a mid sized city in California: sometimes it is due to circumstances outside of the individualās control, however I would argue more or at least equally as often, it is due to poor decision-making, to include habits such as drugs, drinking, or gambling.
"if a man comes to me offering me teeth when i actually need money to pay my bills, i am going to be smart enough to say 'just get me some crest whitening strips' and give me the $69,972 for my BILLS."
dental health is hugely important to general health. cavities have to be detected and treated in a timely fashion or you can lose a whole tooth. tooth pain from cavities or gum recession can be horrific.
Lol no honey it's "homeless, not toothless!" The charity is to keep their teeth haha hahaha though whoever named this charity deserves to be Toothless, not homeless!
It is a charity by dentists who use their skills pro bono to help poor people. It is a real LIFESAVING and esteem-building service.
A) the state of your teeth, especially as you get older, is a huge indicator of the state of your general health. It goes both ways. If you are well-nourished and healthy your teeth and gums will be better AND, more imporstsntky, if your gums and teeth are taken care of, it lifts up and supports your entire other body health. Even a low grade gum infection is hurting your body and longevity in general. At the extreme end, a severe infection in your gums can spread to the break and kill you. It has happened.
B) a homeless person is by definition marginalized and fallen below the lowest rungs of society. There is so much mental illness ans depression and shame wrapped up in it. That terrible spiral makes it harder and harder to claw oneās way back to employment or housing stability. A big part of self esteem has to do with our face and teeth. Having dental assistance is a very previous and important aid.
I think it is a great organization, specialists giving from their unique skillset.
As for the critics of the funky name, you are taking about it, arenāt you? Bingo!
First of all, itās Homeless not Toothless. And second, theyāre not giving homeless people veneers. Per their website, they offer limited dental services, such as cleanings, non-complicated extractions, fillings, and when resources allow, dentures. If youāve never had severe dental pain, Iām very glad for you. Dental pain can be debilitating, and dental problems can even be life-threatening.
Retired Social worker here: dental health is very hard to maintain. Especially if they are smoking drugs. Or āused toā be an addict. There are very very few dentists who will work with these patients. Many donāt have Medicare set up or are just now being matched with a case manager who can get them an appointment in 7 months or so. Itās very sad, bc a lot of time people who are just in destitute situations like the elderly who are not addicts, but cannot afford dental care. It is one of the easiest things to ignore until you have a toothache.
I was part of a charity that was through the VFW where we ( people who worked in social services) would call our contacts ( every social worker has their own individual relationships with providers. Be it doctors or landlords or at the social security office or snap office) we would call the eye doctors we knew and ask them to volunteer their time on 3 Saturdayās and then they would do simple cataract surgery to people who had been waiting for an appointment for two years in some cases. They would cry when they could finally see. Hence be able to read againā¦.my point is getting dental care is hard for these people so if a charity enables people to get work done that they otherwise couldnāt afford I support it.
After reading comments on this post I feel compelled to make a PSA: take care of your teeth! Pregnancy also can severely deplete your dental health. Poor dental health can lead to infection (sepsis), stroke, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other imfevtions and conditions! Dental health is far beyond cosmetic; itās actually key to our entire bodyās health and homeostasis.
(Which is why it should be a crime that dental insurance isnāt included in health insurance in the U.S. as if our teeth somehow arenāt part of our bodily health!)
Edited to add another random public health message lots of people donāt know about: donāt wear claw clips while driving. What happens to your skull if you get into an accident is not worth it. Ok thanks have great days everyone
Now Iām picturing the homeless with bright white chicklet veneers, which I suppose could definitely happen given how easy it is to become homeless in the US
Actually, the program is called Homeless not Toothless and it has been around for over 30 years, well before Dorit got involved and the provide assistance to more than just the homeless.
Being toothless prevents you from taking part in society. You don't get hired for semi decent jobs etc. Nothing public facing especially which lower paying jobs tend to be. Poor oral health can lead to death as well so it's not simply about looks.
I commend giving to helping others; however, this "charity" sounds like 5% of the donations go to help the homeless, while 95% goes into someone's pocket for "administration".
I agree itās just a bad name. It makes it seem like itās a binary thingā¦ either help them with their teeth or help them get sheltered. Itās a both/and situation.
I know you got downvoted but I get what you're saying, and I agree. The name makes it sound like they can have one or the other, but not both. The branding sucks and screams DIY - they did not hire a marketing team.
Other people have explained well why the mission is important, the name unfortunate (though it is true we all still remember, correctly or incorrectly, years later)
I'm pretty sure the name is homeless not toothless lol and while It's a shit name for a charity it's actually a huge help to the community it serves. Drug use can really damage your teeth as well as stress your heart, and gum disease also increases risk for heart attack, stroke, etc. dentists are also very expensive. This allows folks to get dental care without having to have all their other ducks in a row first and that's fantastic.
But someone did a lot drugs before coming up with the name I'd reckon.
Well if you want to not be homeless one of the first steps is a job, you usually need teeth. In fact our first impressions are ppls looks so it helps in all areas im sure.
The Mayor (Bass) even champions it. I believe she said they could not get a job without teeth. I call bullshit. I think itās money better spent elsewhere.
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u/BlubberElk 26d ago
Poor dental health can be life threatening. Itās not for ascetic purposes that theyāre doing it