HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR MOUTH MAKES IT THROUGH YOUR TWENTIES.

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 sugar in alcohol (including beer) and the acid in other alcoholic drinks are the two main threats to your teeth and gums. 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

Most of the soft drinks we sip throughout the day contain a large amount of sugar and all of them contain tooth-eroding acid. 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. Cut down the number of soft drinks/ energy drinks you have Drink through a straw Don t brush your teeth for an hour after 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 Swish water around your mouth after each bottle or can of drink 5

A little known fact about smoking is that it tends to disguise the damage being done to teeth and gums. 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. Quit smoking it s the only way to decrease the risk. Visit www.quitnow. gov.au for help, ideas and support Careful brushing and flossing to slow down the deterioration Visit your dentist to monitor any damage that might be occurring 7

Both illegal, prescription and some over-the-counter drugs can create imbalances inside your mouth that lead to dental problems. 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. Don t rub drugs directly onto your gums Brush your teeth carefully for two minutes twice a day and floss afterwards Cut back on sweet or sticky foods and fizzy, energy and sports drinks (even the zero varieties) Chew sugar-free gum to encourage a 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 Visit a dentist and ask for advice that s specific to you 9

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. 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. 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 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. 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

Lip and tongue piercing 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. 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. Using your teeth as tools Your teeth may be the hardest substance in your body but they re not as tough as you might think. 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