Hollywood actress Jessica Simpson has made quite a disturbing confession that she does not brush her teeth.

The A-list celebrity and star of films such as Dukes of Hazzard and Blonde Ambition claimed she only ever uses mouthwash and fights plaque by using her jumper to wipe her teeth!

Emergency dentists might therefore be forgiven for being stunned by her pearly whites and would no doubt recommend that this is not a course of action that should be followed to maintain good oral health.

Elsewhere, Fiji Village recently reported ensuring teeth are brushed daily is key to helping teeth stay healthy and a person’s smile remains bright.

Dental officer Dr Maher Angez told the publication a failure of many young people to brush twice a day and the increased consumption of sugary snacks has meant oral health in general has declined in recent years.

The use of teeth whitening gels or strips may be pointless if a person does not carry out a good oral health routine, it has been claimed.

I-Newswire reported ensuring teeth are kept clean and healthy will make sure plaque build-up is kept to a minimum and stains and yellowing of teeth can be kept under control.

Brushing is therefore very important to maintaining a bright smile and as such, people are urged to brush regularly.

The publication noted: “Teeth stains can cause a huge loss of self confidence. A good smile is always a sign of a confident human being. The more confident you are, the better the smile projection.”

Elsewhere, New York cosmetic dentistry professional Jeff Golub-Evans recently stated that for the best results, the best time to carry out a teeth whitening treatment is just after a dentist has cleaned a person’s teeth, as the peroxide will be able to act directly on the enamel.

The British Dental Association (BDA) has claimed its funding levels for 2010-11 are “disappointing”.

The Department of Health announced salaried dentists will see a pay increase of one per cent over the coming year, while dental practitioners are set to receive a 0.9 per cent raise.

Susie Sanderson, chair of the BDA’s executive board, said: “High street dentists will be particularly disappointed that the government has chosen to disregard the review body’s advice that efficiency savings should only be considered retrospectively.”

Indeed, Ms Sanderson noted the government would appear to be ignoring the fact that provision of dental services is getting more costly.

Elsewhere, Cosmetic Dentistry Guide recently reported access to emergency dentistry facilities remains poor in Yorkshire.

An NHS review showed 42,000 fewer adults were able to access dental health services in North Yorkshire in 2009 in comparison to 2007, despite the fact the government pledged to improve access in 2006.

Twenty-two-year-old Nicky Welfare has been told he will have to have all his teeth removed due to the amount of alcohol he consumes.

The Herald Sun reported Mr Welfare drank 24 cans of lager every day, as well two litre bottles of cider and as such, his alcoholism has cost him his teeth, as he will now need to have dentures fitted.

Mr Welfare lives on unemployment benefits of £60.40 per week and as such, a judge called him “a walking advertisement” for those who say alcohol is too cheap.

Elsewhere, the Daily Mail recently reported research carried out at the University of Helsinki has shown consuming fizzy vitamin supplements every day could be harmful to a person’s teeth after a study submerged teeth in these drinks for 100 hours and monitored erosion of the enamel.

However, Dr Mervyn Druian, spokesperson for the British Dental Association, noted: “When you drink fizzy vitamins, you wouldn’t expose your teeth for anything near this length of time.”

A terminally ill child in Greece who wanted to have Invisalign braces fitted has had her wish come true through the actions of the Make A Wish Foundation.

Teenager Samantha really wanted to have Invisalign braces fitted and as a result, the company donated the braces to the charity and Samantha was driven in a limousine to a local dentist’s office where the braces were fitted for free.

Karen Buckels of the Make-A-Wish Foundation commented: “These kids never stop smiling. Despite it all they will tell you that they will be fine.”

She added children who are facing such adversity are encouraged to think big when making a wish.

Elsewhere, North Bay Today recently reported the Canadian Dental Association has recommended that anyone taking part in a sporting activity should wear a mouthguard.

The organisation noted all athletes should use these devices to ensure that the rough and tumble of sport does not impact on their oral health.