HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR MOUTH
MAKES IT THROUGH YOUR TWENTIES.
By now you’ll know that
virtually everything you do
can be bad for you.
While most of us make it through our
teens and twenties in one piece, there are
some parts of the body that really take
some punishment – teeth in particular.
If you drink, smoke, take drugs (legal or
illegal), or have oral sex you have two
choices:
1) Cross your fingers that your teeth
and mouth will be OK.
2) Follow this guide - Give your teeth a
fighting chance of surviving past your
30th birthday.
Contents
Alcohol & Binge Drinking
3
Fizzy Sports & Energy Drinks
5
Smoking
7
Drugs 9
Oral Sex
11
Everything Else
13
A quick read of this Oral Survival Guide
could save you a whole lot of toothache,
heartache and money in later life.
The Young Person’s Oral Survival Guide
The sugar in alcohol (including beer) and the
acid in other alcoholic drinks are the two main
threats to your teeth and gums.
The damage
What you can do
Sugar and acid attack tooth enamel
and leave you vulnerable to infection
and decay. Alcohol abuse puts you at a
higher risk of developing mouth and throat
cancer. Arriving home drunk means you’re
more likely to go to bed without cleaning
your teeth. Vomiting also floods your
mouth with tooth-eroding stomach acid.
Before a night out leave a toothbrush on
your pillow to remind yourself to brush
your teeth before going to bed.
While you’re drinking try to swish a
mouthful of water around every so often
to increase the saliva flow and rinse away
sugars and acid in your mouth. Swishing
after each alcoholic drink is an easy way
to remember.
On your way home, chew sugar-free gum
to stimulate saliva flow and clear the
mouth of harmful sugars and acid.
3
The Young Person’s Oral Survival Guide
Most of the soft drinks we sip throughout the day
contain a large amount of sugar and all of them
contain tooth-eroding acid.
The damage
Fizzy, sports and energy drinks contain
acid that attacks your tooth enamel,
(including the sugar-free and ‘zero’
varieties) and most contain sugar, which
causes tooth decay. Every time you take a
sip throughout the day, you’ll start a brand
new acid attack that will last 20 minutes.
What you can do
●●
ut down the number of soft drinks/
C
energy drinks you have
●●
Drink through a straw
●●
on’t brush your teeth for an hour after
D
you’ve finished one of these drinks –
the acid in them temporarily softens
your tooth enamel and brushing too
early will harm it
●●
Don’t drink them before bed
●●
wish water around your mouth after
S
each bottle or can of drink
5
The Young Person’s Oral Survival Guide
A little known fact about smoking is that it
tends to disguise the damage being done to
teeth and gums.
The damage
Usually infected gums are red, puffy and
bleed easily when they are brushed.
Smokers’ gums are not like this - they are
pale and thin and do not bleed readily.
This can make it difficult for your dentist
to assess your oral health and take
appropriate action.
The effects of nicotine often mask the
signs of disease, and problems can go
undetected for years until they become
quite advanced. Nicotine affects saliva
production, which is needed to counteract
the effects of acid in food and drinks. As
a result, some heavy smokers can still
get decay even if they are brushing well.
Smoking is also the leading cause of oral
cancer.
What you can do
●●
uit smoking – it’s the only way to
Q
decrease the risk. Visit www.QuitNow.
gov.au for help, ideas and support
●●
areful brushing and flossing to slow
C
down the deterioration
●●
isit your dentist to monitor any
V
damage that might be occurring
7
The Young Person’s Oral Survival Guide
Both illegal, prescription and some over-the-counter
drugs can create imbalances inside your mouth that
lead to dental problems.
The damage
Some prescription and over-the-counter
drugs can be acidic (for example chewable
vitamin tablets, aspirin and anti-allergy
medications); others can cause a dry
mouth. Both these things can lead to
tooth erosion (the gradual wearing away of
the outer layer of your teeth).
Illegal drugs can cause a variety of
problems including tooth grinding, dry
mouth, gum disease and rapid tooth
decay. Apart from the physical effects,
some drug use can cause people to
neglect their diet and health routine,
which will make things worse.
What you can do
●●
Don’t rub drugs directly onto your gums
●●
rush your teeth carefully for two
B
minutes twice a day and floss
afterwards
●●
ut back on sweet or sticky foods and
C
fizzy, energy and sports drinks (even the
‘zero’ varieties)
●●
hew sugar-free gum to encourage a
C
steady flow of saliva (which helps fight
off decay)
●●
If you’re taking prescription drugs and
you’re worried about their side-effects
consult your doctor. Do not stop taking
prescription drugs without consulting
your doctor first
●●
If you’re taking illegal drugs and want to
quit there are lots of organisations that
provide support. Google ‘Quit Drugs’ or
try www.counsellingonline.org.au as a
first step
●●
isit a dentist and ask for advice that’s
V
specific to you
9
The Young Person’s Oral Survival Guide
It’s no secret that many people choose to engage in oral
sex. Like most sex acts, there are risks you should be
aware of before deciding to participate, and there are
protective measures you can take to minimise the risk.
The damage
What you can do
Both genital and oral sex can facilitate
transmission of the Human Papilloma
Virus, which in rare cases can lead to oral
cancer in both men and women.
There is no cure for the virus itself
although you can test for its presence.
The abnormalities that develop as a result
of the HPV virus (for example oral cancer)
can be treated if they’re detected early
enough.
The Human Papilloma Virus or HPV is
the virus that causes cervical cancer
in women. It’s also the same virus that
can cause oral cancer in both men and
women and can be transmitted via genital
and oral sex. Both men and women can
be carriers of the virus. The chances of
contracting HPV increase as your number
of sexual partners increases, and applies
to both heterosexual and same sex
partners.
Not everyone who contracts the virus will
end up developing oral cancer – most
of the time your body’s immune system
will clear it out within a couple of years.
However, US studies have shown that
more than half of oral cancers diagnosed
are linked to the HPV virus with the
biggest growth in numbers amongst men.
With often no signs or symptoms, an HPV
infection can go undetected for years and
can date back to previous relationships
before people settle down with a long
term partner.
There is a vaccine that protects you
against the four main strains of HPV but
it can’t get rid of the virus once you’ve
got it. If you get vaccinated after you’ve
become sexually active you may already
have contracted one (or more) of the HPV
strains but the vaccination will protect you
against the others.
Be vigilant and get your dentist to check
anything that you notice has changed in
your mouth that lasts longer than two
weeks. It doesn’t have to be painful,
just different.
Visit www.oralcancerfacts.com.au
for detailed information on symptoms,
detection and treatment of oral cancer
11
The Young Person’s Oral Survival Guide
Lip and tongue piercing
Using your teeth as tools
While a lip or tongue piercing may seem
appealing, improper care can cause
chipped teeth, damaged gums, swelling
and nerve damage. Such nerve damage
could affect facial movement and
result in permanent numbness, speech
impediments and loss of taste.
Your teeth may be the hardest substance
in your body but they’re not as tough as
you might think.
If you’re thinking about getting your tongue
or lip pierced, see a qualified dentist to
help with your decision. If you already
have a lip or tongue piercing, visit your
dentist every 6 months to monitor any
damage it may cause.
Teeth whitening
Not everyone’s teeth are suitable for
whitening. Even if they are, you’re not
guaranteed to get the results you’re
after. Whitening can have some painful
and permanent side effects if not done
properly, like heightened sensitivity,
chemical burns, blistering and uneven
tooth colour.
The safest way to get the teeth whitening
that’s right for you is to see your dentist.
Over-the-counter kits sometimes contain
high doses of bleach that can cause
pain and damage even if you follow the
instructions. It’s easier to do damage with
a do-it-yourself kit.
The enamel surface is quite easy to wear
down and can crack if you use them for
the wrong things like opening a bag of
chips, tearing off price tags, straightening
a bent fork or opening a can of beer. It’s
best to reach for the scissors or a bottle
opener.
Things you thought were OK
You can brush too hard and too often.
Stick to a gentle two-minute brush (with
a soft toothbrush) morning and night at
least 30 minutes after you’ve eaten or
drunk anything, and you won’t go wrong.
Don’t use toothpicks. Unless you have a
perfect, gentle technique, they can injure
your gums. The best way to remove bits
of food is to brush, floss or gargle (or
preferably all three).
Eating
Teeth are for chewing but not everything
is meant to be chewed. Munching on ice
cubes, eating popcorn kernels, or any food
that is extremely hard can cause your
teeth to fracture.
For the full facts visit
www.teethwhiteningfacts.com.au
13
Further Information
To find more information on
caring for your teeth visit
www.dentalhealthweek.com.au
Australian Dental Association Inc.
PO Box 520
St Leonards NSW 1590
Tel: 02 9906 4412
Fax:02 9906 4676
www.ada.org.au