Dentists attending a symposium hosted by the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics in Scottsdale, Arizona, have been told how they could help patients tackle a range of illnesses, not just those to do with the mouth.

The organisation claimed good oral health could help reduce the likelihood of an individual having heart attacks, strokes, problems with pregnancy, diabetes, kidney diseases, Alzheimer’s and many cancers.

Dr Rick Coker, board member at the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics, said: "Dentistry is not simply about filling cavities and creating new smiles – it is about saving lives."

Elsewhere, US dentist Dr Corey Snow recently noted having good oral health often signifies that a person will be more healthy overall.

He stated up to 400 different types of bacteria can thrive in the mouth and therefore it is important to brush regularly to keep these microbes in check.

Having clean teeth could help people prevent the development of mouth cancer, one dental healthcare professional has argued.

Kathy Fox, of NHS Leeds’ Special Care Dentistry Service, said more than 2,000 people die in the UK every year from oral cancer – that is one person every five hours.

Therefore, maintaining a good oral health routine is imperative in helping to bring these figures down, with regular check-ups also key to tackling the problem.

She advised: "Visit the dentist regularly, brush gums and teeth for two minutes twice a day, only eat sugary foods and drinks at mealtimes and examine your mouth for unusual changes."

Elsewhere, Canadian publication the Vancouver Sun recently argued that dentists could be the first line of defence against oral cancer.

The newspaper claimed as dental professionals are trained to pick up on minor changes in oral health, having frequent trips to the dentist could help patients tackle any issues early.

Children in Northern Ireland need a better standard of oral healthcare, according to Stormont health minister Michael McGimpsey.

Northern Irish newspaper the Belfast Telegraph reported the average five-year-old in the country now has 2.5 teeth affected by decay; this is compared to the average in England of just 1.5 teeth.

Furthermore, the publication revealed that every year, £60 million is spent on treating these oral health issues in under-fives.

"It is vitally important that we look at new approaches to tackling tooth decay as, unfortunately, young people in Northern Ireland have the worst oral health in the British Isles," Mr McGimpsey told the paper.

Elsewhere, two London-based dentists recently took a trip to India to help children in the Vadaj region improve their oral health.

According to Chai Samosa, Dr Jay and Dr Rupa Patel have each helped more than 130 kids with emergency dentistry treatments they would not have been able to afford otherwise.

It is important for children to begin a dental health regime at an early age, it has been claimed.

The American Academy of Family Physicians argued children should have their first check-up before they are one year old or within six months of their first tooth developing.

It also recommended caregivers should gently wipe the gums of babies after each feeding in order to make them used to the sensation of a clean mouth and to ensure bacteria do not have a chance to build up and cause problems in the future.

The academy noted that children should clean their teeth twice a day and "no matter how much fighting, it has to be done".

According to Child Dental Health Surveys, the number of young children developing cavities in the UK has increased dramatically in recent years.

Since 1998, the report claimed the number of four-year-olds having emergency dentistry treatment for cavities has grown, with the study claiming an increase in the number of sugary beverages consumed by children is to blame.

Britons looking for the best standard of oral healthcare have been advised to visit a private dentist.

Judith Husband, dental surgeon at Bullingdon prison, Oxfordshire, told the Times that whenever he has a problem with his teeth, he visits a private dentist as they are able to spend more time with patients than their NHS counterparts.

He told the publication: "I’m a nervous patient, so I always see the same dentist every six months and my hygienist every three months. They get to know you as a person, and your mouth."

Malaysian newspaper the Star recently reported that people could cut down the expense of costly emergency dentistry procedures by scheduling regular appointments with an oral health professional.

The article noted that scaling and polishing is a faster and easier process when less stains are present on teeth and having regular check-ups will help ensure this is the case.

Dentists in Scotland are being employed to help reduce the country’s burgeoning levels of alcohol abuse, it has been revealed.

Dr Christine Goodall, a senior clinical lecturer in oral surgery, said giving people advice on the dangers to their oral health posed by excessive drinking could help to reduce abuse rates.

She commented: "At the moment, you go to the dentist and you get asked about how much sugar you are eating and quite a lot of dentists do smoking cessation advice as that has a big association with oral cancer. This is the next step."

Elsewhere, Canadian newspaper the Vancouver Sun recently reported that making an appointment to visit a dentist on a regular basis could be the first line of defence against mouth cancer.

The publication noted that oral health professionals are trained to note any problems at an early stage and could prove invaluable in helping to reduce mouth cancer rates.

Dame Judi Dench had a dental mishap while working on a Christmas special of BBC One’s Cranford when she lost a crown.

The Press Association reported the Oscar-winning actress had to find a London emergency dentist quickly, but was on a tight shooting schedule and therefore had to visit the dentist in full costume.

"There wasn’t time for me to change," Dame Judi said.

"So I was in my wig and bonnet and all my clothes. I went into the waiting room and sat and registered and everyone kept looking at me."

Elsewhere, Dr Brian Gold of Monticello, New York, recently advised people to have an emergency dentistry kit as part of their first aid provisions.

He noted that no-one can ever forecast when they will have an oral emergency and therefore it is prudent to keep a supply of ibuprofen, soft dental floss, tweezers and gauze in their first aid kits.