Ananova:

The president of Tajikistan is to ban state employees from wearing gold teeth to improve the country's image.

President Emomali Rakhmonov made his decision after meeting a teacher with a mouth full of gold teeth during a visit to a school in Dushanbe.

"Teachers complain about small salaries, but still wear golden teeth," he said, according to the New Region agency.

"How can international organisations believe in your poverty, when the mouth of a teacher is full of gold? This is not due to our culture and traditions," he added.

It's estimated that 50% of state officials will have to resign or have teeth replaced once the decree is on the stature book.

Golden and silver crowns are traditionally considered a sign of affluence in Central Asian countries.