There has been an increase in the number of gold teeth and fillings which are being handed in to jewellers in recent months due to the high price of gold.

As a result, Britons looking to cash in on their teeth might like to remove their old gold fillings and replace them with new, less valuable alternatives.

However, the return they receive may not cover the cost of having the treatment carried out. Therefore, people should carefully weigh up their options before choosing what to do.

Bobby Heiser, owner of Crescent Jewelry in Kansas, commented: "People that have their old crowns, they’re worth a lot because they’re like 16 carats. I’ve had people bring complete bridges in, even with the teeth."

Elsewhere, Moneymarket.com recently reported research carried out by HSBC showed more people in the UK plan to pay for teeth whitening treatments next year than will start saving towards their retirement.