This poem by Pam Ayres expresses regret over neglecting dental hygiene as a child. In 3 sentences: The poem reflects on indulging in sweets like toffees and sherbet as a child without brushing teeth, which led to cavities and fillings as an adult. Ayres wishes she had taken better care of her teeth by brushing more and avoiding sugary snacks, to avoid the pain of modern dental procedures like drills and fillings she now requires. She hopes her lesson will encourage others to properly care for their oral health.

2. OH, I WISHOH, I WISH
I’D LOOKI’D LOOK
AFTER MEAFTER ME
TEETHTEETH
 By Pam AyresBy Pam Ayres

3. About
author
• Pam Ayres MBE (born 14
March 1947) is an English
poet, comedian, songwriter
and presenter of radio and
television programmes. She
started writing poems and
verses asa hobby and has
appeared in tv show in the
U.K. she has published 6
books of poems, and cut
seven record albums
including a collection of 50
best known poems. Her
1975 appearance on the
television talent show
Opportunity Knocks led to
appearances on other TV
and radio shows, a one-
woman touring stage show
and performing before the
Queen.

4. Presented by
md.khalid

5. oh, I wish I’d lookedoh, I wish I’d looked
after me teethafter me teeth
and spotted the perlisand spotted the perlis
beneath.beneath.
all the toffees Iall the toffees I
chewed,chewed,
and the sweet chickyand the sweet chicky
foodfood
oh, I wish i’d lookedoh, I wish i’d looked
after me teethafter me teeth


6.  Oh, I wish I’d lookedOh, I wish I’d looked
after me teethafter me teeth
 I wish I ‘d been thatI wish I ‘d been that
much more will in’much more will in’
 When I had moreWhen I had more
tooth there than fill in,tooth there than fill in,
 To pass upTo pass up
gobstoppers.gobstoppers.
 From respect to meFrom respect to me
choppers,choppers,
 And to buy somethingAnd to buy something
else with me shill inelse with me shill in

7. When I think of the lolliesWhen I think of the lollies
I licked,I licked,
And the liquorice all sortsAnd the liquorice all sorts
I picked,I picked,
Sherbet dabs , big andSherbet dabs , big and
little,little,
All hard peanut brittleAll hard peanut brittle
My conscience getsMy conscience gets
horribly pricked.horribly pricked.

8. Oh I showed them theOh I showed them the
toothpaste all right,toothpaste all right,
I flashed it about late AtI flashed it about late At
night,night,
But up –and-down brushBut up –and-down brush
in’in’
And pokin’ and fussin’And pokin’ and fussin’
Didn’t seem worth time-IDidn’t seem worth time-I
could bite!could bite!

9. If I’d known , I wasIf I’d known , I was
paving the waypaving the way
To cavities, caps andTo cavities, caps and
decay,decay,
The murder of fillin’sThe murder of fillin’s
Injections and drillin’s,Injections and drillin’s,
I’d have thrown all meI’d have thrown all me
sherbet awaysherbet away

10. • So I lay in the oldSo I lay in the old
dentist ‘s chair,dentist ‘s chair,
• And I gaze up hisAnd I gaze up his
nose in despair,nose in despair,
• And his drill to whine,And his drill to whine,
• In these molars ofIn these molars of
mine.mine.
• ““two amalgum,” he’lltwo amalgum,” he’ll
say “for in there.”say “for in there.”

11. • How I laughed at my
mother’s false teeth,
• As they foamed in the
waters beneath.
• But now comes the
reckonin’
• It’s me they are
beckonin’
• Oh I wish I’d look
after me teeth.