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About teeth...
Kids in orphanages are usually *supposed* to brush their teeth. That's about as far as it gets. They have toothbrushes and sometimes toothpaste. It's not that big of a priority, though - when I asked one lady if her grandkids brushed their teeth, she said 'oh, no, those are just their milk(baby)teeth. They fall out anyway, so why bother?'
By the time kids start getting 'adult' teeth, they've never made the habit of brushing and it's hard to get them to...plus people generally aren't that concerned with dental health in Russia. Most adults have lost half their teeth; when I first arrived in Russia and I would have a conversation with someone I couldn't get over the fact that they only had three teeth on top or that every tooth in their mouth was gold-capped...now? Now I don't even notice. My mom was actually pointing people out in pictures, saying 'look at his teeth! What happened to him?' (thinking that he must have broken them or something). I was like 'what about them?'
Honestly, didn't even phase me.
But yes. Russians in Russia don't really worry too much about teeth. Commercials on TV and campaigns by dental health folks are starting to make a difference...but it'll be a while before every kid (not to mention adult!) brushes their teeth on a regular basis.
-RussianJen <><
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