Britons worried about cardiovascular disease might look to book an appointment with an emergency dentist, as doing so could help them pinpoint the warning signs of developing the illness.
A study by the European Society of Cardiology noted that screening for the early signs of cardiovascular disease by dentists could help improve survival rates, as dentists are used to performing risk assessments on a person’s overall health from the state of the teeth.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of British Dental Health Foundation, said: "This new study could put the dentist at the forefront of the fight against cardiovascular disease, one of the biggest killers in the UK."
Elsewhere, Canadian newspaper the Vancouver Sun recently reported that dentists could also help in the early diagnosis of mouth cancer.
The publication noted that dental professionals are well trained in spotting the early symptoms of disease and could therefore help Britons maintain good oral and overall health.