THE poorest people in society have eight fewer teeth by the time they reach their seventies than the richest, one of the biggest studies of its type ever undertaken has revealed.

It has long been known that there is a strong link between people’s socio-economic position and their oral health, but the new paper published in the Journal of Dental Research has shown the full extent of the problem.

The study, a collaboration between Newcastle University, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University College London and the National Centre for Social Research, showed it was substantially worse among the poorest 20 per cent of society compared with the richest.

For those over 65 years old, the least well-off averaged eight fewer teeth than the richest, a quarter of a full set of teeth.

More than 6,000 people aged 21 and over, from all income groups and regions of the UK were involved in the study.

Those with lower income, lower occupational class, higher deprivation and lower educational attainment generally had more tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth gaps, as well as having less teeth overall.

Professor Jimmy Steele, head of the Dental School at Newcastle University, and lead author said: “The risk is that as health gets better overall the differences just get greater and poorer people lose out.”