Lucy Stock

NHS dentistry has run out of road, according to the British Dental Association Northern Ireland.

AS the saying goes, the truth always outs, and this time our deepest, darkest secrets have been exposed – and they are fringed with exclamations of 'ugh': instead of the humble toothbrush, one in seven of us apparently favours a discarded credit card or earring to clean between our choppers.

"Can your teeth explode when flying?" my teenage son inquired hopefully as we boarded the plane for our summer hols this year.

As we age, getting used to things shrinking, shrivelling and degenerating is on the cards, however distasteful that may sound.

Three preventative interventions could reduce unnecessary trips to the dentist, saving patients almost £100 million annually and NHS dentistry £51m each year, while freeing up capacity to deliver up to 8.

What do Richard Hammond, Andy Garcia, Tom Selleck, and Joaquin Phoenix all have in common? They were all born with a cleft lip or palate.

When your gums are bleeding and nasty whiffs are steaming from your mouth, these are not only symptoms of gum disease but also a signal that your heart is under attack.

I'm always amazed at the fact that when a baby is born, their jaw bones already house not only an entire set of baby teeth but also the very beginnings of all their adult teeth – so much crammed into such a tiny space.

Apparently, bedroom high jinks can take the shine off your smile.

"Why don't more specialities ask for a clean bill of mouth health before the patient has an operation?" I asked my cardiologist patient last week.