People need to be aware that just because their mouths appear healthy does not mean there are not underlying oral health issues, one expert has warned.

Dr John Bridges explained the significance of dental hygiene in maintaining overall wellbeing and not just avoiding the need for emergency dentistry, Black Hills Today reports.

He commented on theories linking heart problems to gum disease stating how they are still in the early stages and as such it is important that people have regular dental check-ups to assess the health of their smiles.

“With studies still surfacing it is hard to know how many people have been affected by poor dental health,” Dr Bridges said.

He added that gum disease can increase the risk of heart attacks as proteins pass into the bloodstream.

Dr Tim Robinson recently told KPLC that people who are scared of visiting a dentist should consider using the sedation techniques available to relax themselves and allow work to be carried out more easily.

Failure to floss teeth can lead to 40 per cent of the tooth surface not being cleaned, according to experts.

Writing for Online Athens, Dr Mehmet Oz and Dr Mike Roizen explained that oral hygiene is vital and flossing is a key part of it.

They described how people should clean their teeth twice a day with a toothbrush, ensuring they scrub the gum line and over the tongue as well as the surfaces and biting edges.

It is important this is done for a minimum of two minutes at the end of each day, the specialists stated and that combined with this individuals should also floss.

Cleaning between the teeth should be carried out once a day at least and it is vital all areas of the mouth are covered to prevent the buildup of bacteria and decay, Dr Oz and Dr Roizen warned.

IBT Health recently claimed that flossing could help reduce bad breath as well as tooth decay and suggested people have regular dental check-ups to prevent problems.

No one likes having to get emergency dentistry and it can be avoided with good dental hygiene, which can also benefit overall health.

This is the suggestion of Robert Shechet, director of dental programmes at Health Net, who highlighted the link between poor oral health and other medical problems ahead of America’s National Dental Awareness Day

“Too often, we see people with deteriorating dental conditions go on to experience significant medical problems,” he said.

Those with low dental health are more susceptible to heart conditions and diabetes, while women with poor dental hygiene appear more likely to suffer a premature birth when pregnant, the specialist added.

Mr Shechet recommended brushing and flossing daily and ensuring toothbrushes are replaced every three to four months or when the bristles start to fray.

The news followed comments from Dr Mehmet Oz, who recently pushed for individuals to remember to floss as it clears the mouth of any remaining bacteria missed by simply brushing.

Children who suffer from tooth problems could require emergency dentistry for tooth loss, according to one publication.

Medical News Today has claimed tooth decay is the most common childhood disease and can have a significant effect on all aspects of a youngster’s life.

Being taught how to maintain a daily tooth cleaning routine that covers all aspects of oral health, such as brushing and flossing, is vital the paper explained.

It said that failure to maintain dental hygiene can have painful consequences and the child may find they become ill, cannot eat or sleep and in some cases it could even affect their growth.

Dr Ronald Smith, president of the Canadian Dental Association said: “A child with tooth decay can suffer from great pain and an inability to learn … children should not have to wait for urgently needed dental care.”

His comments came after the Wait Times Alliance (WTA) report card found that some children in Canada have to wait long periods of time for dental treatment.

Individuals were recently warned by Dr Thomas Connelly in the Huffington Post that nail biting can damage teeth.

Teeth should be brushed for at least three minutes to ensure effective cleaning and prevent the need for emergency dentistry, one publication has claimed.

People need to do more than just clean their teeth to maintain a good level of oral hygiene, IBT Health stated.

It advised that individuals chew gum and drink plenty of water throughout the day to help remove bacteria build-up in the mouth.

To prevent bad breath and tooth decay, flossing between teeth is recommended, along with rinsing with warm water and salt after meals.

The health guide reminded both adults and children that daily brushing should last for three times the length of the average minute and to have regular dental check-ups.

Failure to adequately look after a smile could have psychological and physical effects it warned, describing how digestive ailments could occur as a result.

Writing for the Windsor Star, Dr David Mady recently claimed that teeth problems can affect a person’s performance by distracting them and damaging their self-esteem.

Teeth problems can affect poor work performance as well as low self-esteem and cause further health issues, one expert has warned.

Writing for the Windsor Star, Dr David Mady reinforced the important role oral health has in overall wellbeing.

The specialist explained how problems with the mouth can affect mental as well as physical health and if left untreated can require complex cosmetic dentistry.

He encouraged individuals to look after their teeth in order to protect their confidence and their ability to work productively, explaining that tooth problems can impinge on a person’s capability to eat and speak normally.

Serious infections are also a side effect of lax dental care and could lead to loss of artificial joints and illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes, he added.

The British Dental Health Foundation recommends people who are unhappy with their smile have braces fitted to help straighten teeth and improve the future health of jaws and gums.

Smokers have been reminded by specialists that nicotine not only causes damage to the lungs, but could also cause tooth loss and result in the need for emergency dentistry.

Experts writing for the dental health magazine WorlDental have warned that bad breath and discolouration of teeth are not the only negative outcomes of smoking, but there can also be more serious implications.

They explained that teeth and gums can become diseased, due to tobacco reducing the blood flow, causing thinning and weakening to the roots, thus allowing bacteria to penetrate easier and cause infections.

In the more extreme cases it was suggested that people could lose their teeth or develop mouth cancer if they smoke regularly.

People were also encouraged by the magazine to look out for red, shiny gums or sensitivity and bleeding as these could be signs of gum disease, which is the main cause of tooth loss in adults.

People respond to scare tactics to improve their oral health.

Individuals who are shown the end results of years of neglect in terms of oral health often do not make the same mistakes in their own lives, it has been revealed.

Dentistry IQ reported that talking to people about the problems that can arise from a lack of oral healthcare can help show them the error of their ways.

Indeed, problems like gingivitis, lost teeth and bleeding gums can all be avoided if a person brushes regularly.

Flossing and using mouthwash are also excellent additions to the routine, as they ensure all food debris and plaque is removed before it can cause a problem to healthy teeth and gums.

Meanwhile, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation Dr Nigel Carter recently stated that National Smile Month – currently taking place in the UK – could prompt many Brits to take better care of their teeth.

He claimed that the focus is on looking after teeth and keeping them healthy for life, with the tagline Teeth4Life hoping to raise awareness of this issue.

Many Brits apparently do not have time to brush their teeth properly.

The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has shown that one-third of Brits do not brush their teeth properly.

It found that many people say they have more pressing matters and therefore do not have the time for a proper oral health routine.

Problems with time management could therefore be putting the health of many in jeopardy.

“Gum disease is the largest cause of tooth loss in adults and poor oral health is being linked to more and more serious illnesses such as strokes and diabetes, but it is a preventable condition,” chief executive of the foundation Dr Nigel Carter said.

Elsewhere, Dentistry IQ recently reported the BDHF has completed a study that shows 60 per cent of the adult population in the UK are presently suffering from some kind of problem with their teeth or gums.

This is opposed to a resent poll by the BDHF that showed more than half of people say they have no problems with their oral health.

many people fail to realise the poor state of their oral health.

Many Brits are “nonchalant” about the state of their teeth and this has been reflected in a recent poll.

Dentistry IQ reported the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has carried out a survey that showed 60 per cent of Brits have no issues with their oral health, yet other research reveals that more than half of the adult population is suffering from teeth and gum problems.

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the BDHF, says: “National Smile Month is all about educating people on how to make the best of their smile.”

He added that the situation has improved in recent years, as 35 years ago, one in three people over the age of 16 had no natural teeth.

Earlier this month, the BDHF issued advice for people regarding their oral health and stated that people should brush twice daily to ensure they can keep their teeth for their whole life.

Flossing could help people to stay healthy.

A study published by the UCL Eastman Dental Institute in London has shown a link between poor memory and tooth loss – a condition which could be averted through the daily use of floss.

Dr Nigel Carter, head of the British Dental Health Foundation, said the findings were interesting and are helping to highlight the importance of good oral health and the benefits this can bring to overall wellbeing.

He told the Independent that this research will “add to a growing list of evidence of the wide-ranging systemic links relating to poor oral health”.

Elsewhere, Dr Robert MacGregor recently told the Vancouver Sun that one of the biggest threats to oral health is smoking and that most of the damage caused to an individual will be in their gums.

He argued that periodontal disease, loss of jawbone density, loss of teeth and oral cancer are all possible outcomes of the habit.

Bad breath is a problem that dentists could help solve.

Dental professionals could help people tackle any problems they have with halitosis, it has been claimed.

US dentist Dr Joel Miller of Aesthetic Dentistry of Valencia told his local publication that there are a number of options available to help address this issue, including a number of mouth washes, as it can be a touchy issue for many.

Dr Miller told Homestation News: “Sometimes their spouse or boyfriend or girlfriend will push them to take are of it.”

However, he noted that there is no replacement for having a regular oral health routine in place to ensure any food debris is removed from the mouth daily.

Elsewhere, Irwin Smigel, creator of Supersmile, recently told the Daily Beauty Reporter blog from Allure that some of the most important ways to keep teeth healthy and bright are to brush regularly and to consume the recommended eight glasses of water every day.