There is a growing gap between those with good and poor oral health in the UK, it has been revealed.

Research carried out by the British Dental Association (BDA) has shown that in the poorest areas of Britain, 60 per cent of five-year-olds and 70 per cent of eight-year-olds have signs of decay in their baby teeth.

This is compared to 40 per cent and 55 per cent respectively in more affluent areas, highlighting a noticeable gap in oral health standards.

Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the BDA, said: "There has been a significant improvement in the nation’s overall oral health over the last 30 years, but despite that we still see a huge disparity that is all-too-often related to social deprivation."

Meanwhile, the American Academy of Periodontology recently noted that regular flossing could help people improve their overall health by removing bacteria and foods in the mouth, which, if left unchecked, could cause problems if bacteria seeped into the bloodstream.