Q. Hi, I’m 28 years old and i have always had bad teeth and oral hygiene in general. The last time i visited a dentist was around 14 years ago. The teeth that didn’t have to be extracted had fillings so my mouth was already in quite a mess. Now it has got to the stage where at least 50% of my teeth have completly rotted away right down to the gum line and below. All i see now when i open my mouth is big black holes in my gums. The remaining teeth, mostly being the front visable ones have very bad cavities and are discusting to look at. Having done research online i am absolutly petrified of related health issues caused by bad oral hygeine. I’m so depressed right now i just dont know what to do, I have no friends, people think i am ignorent because i never smile and dont like to look at people when they speak to me incase they look at my teeth. I am jobless at the moment, i wanna go back to work but too worried about what the interviewer will think when he see’s my teeth. I really want friends and to socialise but im just so embarassed to go anywhere or speak to anyone. I currently recieve social security benefits so spending thousands of pounds to fix my teeth is not an option for me. I just don’t know what to do or where to turn, i just want to be able to smile and laugh without looking at the floor or putting my hand over my mouth. I have a partner of 8 years who keeps telling me to sort it but she just dosn’t understand why i carn’t face going to see a dentist. I carn’t even smile in front of my 3 children because im so scared of them seeing my bad teeth and asking questions about them, even my own kids think im ignorent and misrable. I’m quite sure i’m way past the help of a regular dentist because i don’t believe any of my teeth can be saved and its actually my gums that look pretty messed up now. Please help me turn my life around and smile again. Your help and advice is very much appreciated.