Producers of the TV talent show X Factor may be in talks to find a temporary replacement for judge Tulisa Contostavlos, as a bout of toothache could see her pull out of this weekends live show.

23-year-old Tulisa has had to cancel several work commitments over the past few weeks due to the pain from her new porcelain veneers. The £12,000 porcelain veneers were fitted during the summer, just after Tulisa was named as the fourth judge on the X Factor panel, but have been causing her agony in the last week or so. According to a source, the N-Dubz star was in too much pain to attend any of her scheduled work appointments, but was determined to power through and take her seat between Kelly Rowland and Louis Walsh on Saturday. ‘No dodgy tooth is going to keep here away.’ the source assured The Mirror, ‘She’d never want to miss the important stages – and she wouldn’t sit out an entire weekend of live shows.’

It’s been rumoured that Tulisa is anxious to avoid a behind-the-scenes confrontation by following in Kelly Rowland’s footsteps – the US judge called in sick last weekend, citing a cold and throat infection as her reasons for missing the show. It seems Tulisa is made of sterner stuff, the source added ‘She’ll be there on Saturday if she has to be wheeled out.’

Brits advised about oral health during National Smile Month.

People across the UK have been told to brush twice daily as part of a new campaign launched to commemorate National Smile Month.

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, has stated people should be doing more to ensure they do not lose their teeth as they get older and, as such, the organisation has launched its new Teeth4Life campaign.

He commented: “Use of interdental brushes and floss has risen but those who use them are still in the minority. So, things have improved but there is still a long way to go.”

Meanwhile, Hollywood actress and pop star Jessica Simpson was recently told by dentists to start brushing her teeth, after it emerged that instead of doing so, she relies on mouthwash only to remove any plaque from her teeth.

New York-based cosmetic dentist Dr Laura Torrado argued that, if this were the case, she could be running an extremely high risk of developing gum disease in the years ahead

Dental veneers can help improve a person’s appearance, it has been claimed.

People who wish to improve the appearance of their teeth have been advised that having a set of dental veneers fitted could be the solution they require, but a first step could be the fitting of Lumineers.

According to US dentist Dr Sherzoy, the product can be fitted to a person’s teeth without the need drill out areas for adhesive bonding.

The drawback of the product, however, is that it is less hardwearing than traditional dental veneers and will need replacing more frequently.

Despite this, Dr Sherzoy claims Lumineers can achieve a more natural look for the patient and can be fitted in fewer sessions – often being achieved in just two sittings.

Elsewhere, WorlDental recently reported dental veneers can be made from a custom resin or from porcelain, although each has its advantages and drawbacks.

However, both enable a person to improve the appearance of their teeth and will last anywhere up to 15 years before they need replacing.