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.