By Amal Elamin, The Conversation Oral diseases, such as tooth decay and gum disease, are among the the most widespread chronic illnesses globally – affecting an estimated 3.5 billion people. They pose a significant problem not just because of how common they are, but because they can cause serious health complications. For instance, untreated oral diseases can

By Ruth Green, BBC News Lack of access to dentists is costing lives because mouth cancers are not being spotted or treated early enough, a health charity has told BBC News. The disease killed more than 3,000 people in 2021 – up 46%, from 2,075 a decade ago, latest figures obtained by the Oral Health

Non-smokers who only brush their teeth in the morning, as well as those who do not brush their teeth at all, are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease, new research has suggested Those who do not brush their teeth before going to bed are more more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease, a study

A long-serving Conservative MP said NHS dentistry was at risk of “collapse”, during a debate at Westminster Hall. South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon was opening a discussion on dental services in the East of England. No dental practices in Suffolk, Norfolk, North Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire were accepting new adult NHS patients last year, according to BBC

At a glance Thousands more patients are to be deregistered from NHS dental services in the south of Scotland. NHS Dumfries and Galloway said it had received notification of the move by the Blue Door Dental Practice. It means that about 5,000 adults face being deregistered by the Dumfries facility from 1 June. With access

Dentists have told the BBC that demand for Instagram smiles has left people with damage from wearing clear braces or “aligners” ordered online. One man said aligners weakened his front teeth, leaving him unable to bite into an apple. Smile Direct Club, the largest company selling clear aligners remotely, says they straighten teeth faster and

What is mouth cancer? Most people have heard of cancer affecting parts of the body such as the lungs or breasts. However, cancer can appear in the mouth, where the disease can affect the lips, tongue, cheeks and throat. Who can be affected by mouth cancer? Anyone can be affected by mouth cancer, whether they

People are struggling to find an NHS dentist not just in their hometowns but in their entire county The National Health Service (NHS) was founded on the basic but powerful principle that access to healthcare should be based on clinical need, not the ability to pay. Today, finding that principle in practice is increasingly hard