A mum has removed 11 of her own teeth because she claims she could not afford to see a private dentist.
Danielle Watts, 42, was forced to pull out the teeth over the last three years as she could not find any NHS dentists in her area.
The woman, who said she could not afford private treatment, has said she "no longer smiles" after the excruciating process.
Danielle, who now lives with just a third of her teeth, said she feels insecure about the way she looks and talks.
She told the BBC: "It gets to the point where the teeth are just sitting in my mouth with no support, that even a simple squeeze and they will come out.
"I don't smile, I've lost my confidence and I'm taking painkillers on a daily basis.
"I'm paranoid about how I sound because I know my words don't form properly anymore."
Danielle added that her problems first arose when her NHS practice closed six years ago, leaving her and her children with "nowhere to go".
She said: "Everywhere I've tried has said they are not taking on NHS patients, but offered to take us on privately.
"I wouldn't know where to get the funds from or where to begin to go privately."
Dentistry is one of the NHS services where patients have to pay a contribution, but it is significantly cheaper than private treatment.
Emergency dental treatment, for example pain relief or a temporary filling, has a standard fee of £23.80, according to the NHS website.
There are three bands of treatment, with the most expensive one being priced at £282.80.
Patients do not have to pay a dental charge if they are having stitches removed, if a dentist has to stop bleeding from their mouth or if their dentures need repair.
The NHS does not provide cosmetic treatments such as teeth whitening, which people need to get privately.
