People should ensure they look after their oral health.

Busy people should take the time to look after their teeth properly, it has been argued.

Michael Thomas, from the Wessex Dental Specialist Centre, claimed having the forethought to stay on top of dental health issues will help people avoid costly and painful emergency dentistry treatments in the future and could help them keep a bright and appealing smile for the rest of their life.

He said: “As the mouth is the gateway to the body, a healthy mouth will be part of having a healthy body and leading a healthy lifestyle.”

Elsewhere, Dentistry IQ recently reported that Chicago periodontist Dr Robert Pick has stated that people should be aware of the dangers of not flossing regularly, as this can lead to gingivitis and other periodontal diseases.

Indeed, he claimed poor oral health is a contributory factor to cardiovascular disease and this accounts for the deaths of more than 2,400 people per day.