Dental Health: A Stark Indicator of Poverty

Dental health is identified as a significant indicator of poverty, impacting individuals' well-being and economic opportunities. US journalist Sarah Smarsh has described this issue as "poor teeth," stating that such conditions can lead to shame and further economic disadvantage, including difficulties in employment. The visual contrast between natural teeth and the "whitened, straightened, veneered smiles" prevalent today is also noted.

Sarah Smarsh's concept of "poor teeth" highlights how dental issues can perpetuate shame and economic disadvantage, even hindering employment opportunities.

Australia's Dental Divide: Policy and Access Challenges

In Australia, dental care was excluded from Medicare's predecessor when it was established in the 1970s. This historical exclusion continues to shape the landscape of dental access today.

Currently, the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, introduced in 2014, provides free dental care for eligible children up to 17 years old whose families receive specific Australian government payments.

The "Dental into Medicare" initiative was a key policy of the Greens in the lead-up to the 2025 federal election, aiming for expanded coverage.

Despite increased public attention to the link between teeth and poverty, data from late 2024 by the Grattan Institute indicates that over two million Australians avoid dental care due to cost. Additionally, more than four in ten adults reportedly wait over a year between dental visits. Peter Breadon, the institute's health program director, describes Australia's public dental system as "underfunded" and "overwhelmed."

Over two million Australians avoid dental care due to cost, and more than four in ten adults delay visits for over a year, underscoring the severe strain on the "underfunded" and "overwhelmed" public dental system.

As of July 2025, approximately one-third of Australians are eligible for free or low-cost public dental services. These services are primarily funded by state and territory governments with some Commonwealth support. Data shows varying wait times across states, with some individuals waiting years for care. Untreated dental issues can necessitate hospital visits.

International Context and Lived Experiences of Dental Poverty

The United Kingdom's welfare system, through its "work capability assessment," and Australia's similar assessment tool, impose strict conditions on accessing disability benefits. A recent book documenting victims of the UK system included an account of a 57-year-old man found deceased with molars and pliers, suggesting self-extraction due to lack of access to dental care. This grim anecdote powerfully illustrates the desperate measures individuals may resort to when denied proper dental care.

Linda Tirado's 2014 book, Hand to Mouth, documents her experiences of poverty, low-wage jobs, and raising children in the US. The book details the burdens of poverty, including issues related to dental health. It originated from an online forum response discussing "Why do poor people do things that seem so self-destructive?"

Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed, wrote a foreword for Tirado's book, highlighting the importance of authentic, lived-experience accounts of poverty over academic or journalistic perspectives. This shift towards direct communication of experiences is increasingly observed through digital platforms, social media, and publishing ventures by individuals in poverty.

The 2024 Australian collection Povo, stemming from workshops by Sweatshop Literacy Movement, also features stories from direct experience. One contribution, Victor Guan Yi Zhou's "Plot twist!," discusses the narrator's tooth gems acquired after being disowned, linking personal expression to challenging circumstances.

Poverty and Welfare in Australia: The Broader Economic Strain

In the lead-up to the 2023 Budget, a protest organized by the Australian Unemployed Workers' Union highlighted struggles to live on income support payments like JobSeeker and the Disability Support Pension. Despite some recent marginal improvements, Australian payment levels remain below the poverty line.

A protest by the Australian Unemployed Workers' Union underscored the struggles of living on income support payments like JobSeeker and the Disability Support Pension, which remain below the poverty line.

Researchers characterize typical JobSeeker recipients as often older women with chronic illnesses or disabilities, challenging older stereotypes of "dole bludgers." An attendee at the protest, a JobSeeker recipient, described performing "mutual obligations" by removing weeds, and utilized a sign stating "welfare not warefare."