WARNING: Graphic images

An Australian dentist has revealed he once treated a patient who used glue and building materials to hold his mouth together for a whole year.

Dr Sam Koh, principal dentist at Dental Boutique, has told 7NEWS.com.au about the wildest things he has ever seen while peering into the mouths of his patients, in a bid to emphasise the importance of proper oral care.

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Among his top three was a patient whose DIY dentistry had left him needing urgent treatment from a professional.

Koh said there was “plaque, tartar and decay everywhere”, with four loose teeth held together with wall plaster mesh and loosely locked into the mouth with denture glue.

The patient had used the makeshift treatment for 12 months and had only been able to eat using his two back molars.

Koh said the man had been in “constant pain”.

“Growing up he would have infections and abscesses. He would pop them and never get any treatment,” the dentist told 7NEWS.com.au.

The practitioner recounted another of his worrying cases — the youngest adult he had ever seen needing every single tooth extracted.

Koh said he was “on constant painkillers and antibiotics as the majority of his teeth were infected”.

His mouth was always swollen and riddled with abscesses, the doctor said.

“I had to extract all teeth and provide him new implant teeth. He was only 22 years old when we needed to do this, but he’s now changed his life around,” Koh said.

A third example was the “worst gum disease I have ever seen”, with an adhesive used to hold the patient’s teeth together.

“His teeth were all loose and able to move. He was holding the front ones together with some temporary glue,” Koh said.

The dentist said he was sharing the stories of people who had come through his clinic to highlight the importance of oral health, saying the mouth often serves an indicator of general well-being.

“Teeth are the first thing people notice when you meet them. They play a crucial role in our quality of life, from preventing dental pain to enhancing our ability to enjoy food,” he said.

His five tips include brushing twice a day, brushing your tongue, flossing at least once a day before brushing, replacing your toothbrush every three months, and making regular dentist visits.

“Even if you think your teeth are healthy, regular dental visits are crucial. They allow us to prevent issues before they arise and provide guidance on proper dental care techniques,” Koh said.

One in every 25 Australians older than 15 have no natural teeth left.

A recent senate report into dental care across Australia found public services were “overstretched, understaffed and the wait times are prohibitively long (between 12 months and 24 months for non-urgent care)“.

It also found there are “no standard fees for dental services and no regulation of pricing”, with the average costs for the same service varying “considerably” by state and territory.

“Likewise, dentists rarely advertise their prices, and private health insurance data reveals that some dentists charge different patients different amounts for the same service,” the report said.

As a result of costs and other factors, 40 per cent of Australians avoid or delay seeing a dentist.