Dentists in Scotland are being employed to help reduce the country’s burgeoning levels of alcohol abuse, it has been revealed.
Dr Christine Goodall, a senior clinical lecturer in oral surgery, said giving people advice on the dangers to their oral health posed by excessive drinking could help to reduce abuse rates.
She commented: "At the moment, you go to the dentist and you get asked about how much sugar you are eating and quite a lot of dentists do smoking cessation advice as that has a big association with oral cancer. This is the next step."
Elsewhere, Canadian newspaper the Vancouver Sun recently reported that making an appointment to visit a dentist on a regular basis could be the first line of defence against mouth cancer.
The publication noted that oral health professionals are trained to note any problems at an early stage and could prove invaluable in helping to reduce mouth cancer rates.