His prominent jaw and huge specs might have been what made him recognisable to so many, but Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards decided that his public image wasn’t worth sacrificing his dental health, and had his jaw broken to save his natural teeth.

‘My dentist told me that because my front teeth didn’t meet, my back teeth were grabbing at food and being ground away,’ Eddie explains. The 49-year-old also had permanent contact lenses placed so that he doesn’t have to wear his famous chunky glasses when taking part in sporting events. He went on to add that the treatment was not due to vanity, purely for ‘dental reasons’, to prevent further damage to the back teeth and eventual tooth loss.

The underbite Eddie suffered with growing up already cost him eight adult teeth, so he underwent a procedure that involved breaking the bottom jaw and moving it back, then fracturing the top jaw to shift it forward. The former Olympian said ‘The operation wasn’t too uncomfortable but I had to have my jaw wired together for five weeks. I lived off soups, custard, and milkshakes. I had a morphine pump for the pain, which was great for when I wanted to go to sleep. I just had to give it a pump.’ He also added that the front teeth were in pretty good condition, ‘because they had so little to do over the years.’

New research has shown that people who kiss their dogs or allow them to lick their mouths are at risk of catching gum disease and may subsequently suffer tooth loss as the bacteria passes from the pet to the owner and infects the gums. Without proper treatment, gum disease can cause the supporting tissue to fail and the teeth to loosen in the sockets, before eventually falling out completely.

A large percentage of dogs suffer from periodontitis (gum disease) and the harmful microbe that causes this condition was found to be present in 16% of owners tested – even though it should not naturally be part of a human beings system, suggesting that close-contact relationships between owner and pet were to blame. According to the new research, even low-level contact can still result in transmission that could put the owner’s oral health at risk.

Dr Paul Maza of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University explained that cleaning the dogs teeth could help lower the chances of transmission; ‘Many of the different types of bacteria in dogs and cats are the same type of bacteria as in humans. If owners practice oral hygiene on their pets, such as brushing their teeth, a pet’s mouth can actually be even cleaner than a human mouth.’ 

Most people in the UK will develop gum disease in one form or another, and the painful condition can lead to extensive tooth loss if it is not dealt with properly in the early stages. While periodontitis may be a worry for some of us, the hope is that a new dental laser could be the answer to serious gum disorders.

Waterlase is a treatment that involves spraying a mixture of water and air into the mouth, then a laser causes the water molecules to explode, destroying diseased tissue and cleaning away bacteria. This might sound painful, but it can actually be used without the need for local anaesthetic as the laser doesn’t come into contact with the body.

Jackie Cooper, of distribution company Henry Schien, said that the process is ‘painless’, despite the fact that most people associate lasers with heat; according to Jackie all the patient will be aware of is ‘’a harmless popping in their mouths as the water molecules explode.’ Dentist Rana Al-Falaki of Buckhurst Hill, Essex, was also singing its praises, saying she is able to remove much more tartar and bacteria than with previous methods, and adding that patients who would previously have been referred for invasive surgery can now take advantage of a much easier procedure using Waterlase. The price for this type of treatment is generally between £700 and £900, for an entire mouth procedure.

Using Japanese puffer-fish as a template, scientists at Sheffield University are hoping to discover a way of renewing human teeth over an average lifespan, to give people who have suffered tooth loss a natural alternative to dentures or bridges. Puffer-fish have a beak with four teeth that are constantly renewed every few weeks, and researchers are investigating the chemical process in the hopes that something similar can be artificially developed for humans – who, like most mammals, only have two sets of teeth during their lifetime.

Dr Gareth Fraser from the University’s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences spoke about what first drew him to the puffer-fish as an example of renewable teeth; ‘When I saw this beak I thought it was really weird. We quickly realised it is a very interesting structure which developed as a result of tooth replacement… this fish could give us a clue as to how it grows its teeth so humans no longer have to rely on dentures or implants. Wisdom teeth have already shown that late growth is possible.’

Dr Fraser went on to talk about the structure of the beak, saying that it was made out of dentine bands stacked together, each one representing a replacement tooth that would grow in the future. ‘It is an example of re-specification of its genetic tool-kit for tooth development toward a very alternatives, and unique, dentition.’

Parents looking to limit the chances of their child needing emergency dentistry could be interested in the findings from a new study.

According to the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF), mothers with poor oral health could pass on the same issues to their children in later life.

The research, conducted by scientists in New Zealand, revealed that 45.1 per cent of youngsters whose mothers had dental health problems suffered from severe tooth decay.

Strengthening the belief that oral health is affected by genetic and environmental factors, the research consisted of over 1,000 children born in 1972 and 1973.

"We must target parents to educate their children in the hope they can better their own oral health and pass the message on to future generations," remarked Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the BDHF.

The findings emerged after previous research established a link between women with gum disease and difficulty with conception.

People who take time to ensure their gums are healthy could limit the risk of needing dental implants, experts believe.

With previous research identifying a link between gum disease and wider health problems, it is vital to ensure teeth and gums are in good condition.

Gums that appear red and swollen may need expert attention and could lead to conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, health website Care2 has advised.

People with pink and firm gums should ensure they remain in the best condition possible to avoid developing problems in future.

The website also urged people to take part in regular dental care, as it can limit the chances of contracting kidney disease.

Researchers have suggested that inflammation caused by gum disease and tooth loss could be a causal factor for the condition.

Meanwhile, Colgate has advised people to be aware of the symptoms of gum disease in a bid to reduce the risk of contracting it.

Bleeding gums, bad breath and gum recession are among the telltale signs for the problem and those experiencing the issues should speak to a dental professional immediately.

People who avoid attending regular dental appointments are more likely to have decaying teeth which could lead to emergency dentistry, a report has suggested.

Research conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) found that people who did not visit the dentist had more than three times the level of tooth decay than those who attend regular check-ups, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Entitled Dental Attendance Patterns and Oral Health Status, the report also revealed those participants who avoided dental health visits had on average 1.6 more missing teeth due to decay.

The chances of contracting gum disease were also significantly increased by people who do not attend oral health check-ups – which could result in emergency dentistry procedures.

Professor John Spencer of AIHW's dental statistics and research unit said: "Those seeking regular dental check-ups were more likely to have dental decay treated promptly, which led to less untreated decay, fewer extractions and more teeth restored."

About Dental Care advises people to attend regular dental appointments to prevent oral cancer and avoid tooth loss.

Post-menopausal women have been advised to go to the dentist more often to avoid needing emergency dentistry.

Medical experts have urged them to attend more dental appointments after a recent study revealed regular brushing and two annual check-ups may not be enough to prevent tooth loss in older women.

Researchers from the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic discovered that women taking medication to treat osteoporosis had high levels of dental plaque on their teeth.

Of the women displaying high levels of bacteria, all of them met the recommended requirements for oral health.

Biodentical Hormone Health contributor Anna Rushton recommended that women who are going through the menopause should increase the number of check-ups they receive to four a year.

Ms Rushton also advises post-menopausal women to clean their teeth immediately after eating anything sugary.

Meanwhile, About Dental Care recommends people should attend dental check-ups every six months so any oral health problems such as gum disease and cavities are spotted early by medical professionals.

Good oral health maintained by flossing may reduce the likelihood of undergoing emergency dentistry and limit the chances of a stroke, new research has suggested.

Japanese researchers have found that the possibility of having a stroke is linked to tooth loss occurring as a result of poor dental hygiene.

The study, conducted at Hiroshima University and reported on the Cosmetic Dentistry Guide website, found that people with less than 24 of their own teeth were faced with a 60 per cent higher chance of suffering from a stroke than those who had more natural teeth.

According to the website, a number of serious illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease can be linked to dental health and people with unhealthy teeth and gums are also at greater risk of requiring emergency dental procedures.

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Foundation, also attributes a healthy diet to better dental hygiene.

He said: "A diet rich in vitamins, minerals and fresh produce can help to prevent gum disease, a disease which can in turn, pose more significant risks to your overall health."

A writer has said that he has been delighted by how his dental implant treatment has turned out.

Tim Jepson of the Telegraph said he opted to have one fitted after losing a molar when he bit into a prune.

He explained that he went for this kind of treatment over a bridge because dental implants are strong, reliable and durable and do not compromise any surrounding teeth.

The fitting of the titanium equipment and the mock tooth took around 40 minutes and Mr Jepson insisted that he didn't feel a thing.

"I am delighted with my implant. I can't feel it, it's rock solid and the crown is better-looking than the tooth that was there before," he concluded, urging anyone who has been wondering about whether or not to have implants to "bite the bullet".

WorlDental.org – the website of Dental Health magazine – recently said that people who are struggling as a result of age-related tooth loss could benefit from having dental implants.