Oscar winner TOM HANKS credits his good teeth with helping him avoid the pitfalls of fame.

The Forrest Gump star insists his image as an "average guy" in Hollywood is down to his regular visits to the dentist - and an aversion to overexposure in the media.

He says, "I found that in order to maintain my average, normal guy persona, I keep the press conferences to a minimum and get to the dentist as often as possible."