Teens' teeth

Your smile is a big part of how you look and feel. Healthy teeth can boost confidence and help you feel comfortable around other people.

Looking after your mouth now also protects your teeth for the future.

What happens if I don’t look after my teeth?

If you don't look after your teeth and gums properly, you could suffer from a number of different conditions that will make you stand out from the crowd for all the wrong reasons:

• Bad breath

• Stained teeth

• Tooth decay

• Gum disease

• Tooth loss

• Dental erosion

These problems can affect your appearance, cause pain and may need dental treatment to fix.

Diet and your teeth

What you eat and drink has a big effect on your oral health.

Every time you have something sugary, bacteria in plaque produce acid. This acid weakens enamel and can lead to holes in the teeth.

Acidic foods and drinks can also wear enamel away. Having these often between meals increases the risk:

• Fruit juices and smoothies.
• Fizzy drinks, including diet.
• Citrus fruits.
• Sports and energy drinks.
• Alcohol.

Frequent acid attacks can make teeth thinner, more sensitive and discoloured.

Smoking, alcohol and drugs

Smoking can lead to:

• Stained teeth.
• Bad breath.
• Gum disease and tooth loss.
• A much higher risk of mouth cancer.

Alcohol can also increase the risk of mouth cancer. Many drinks contain sugar and acid, which can cause decay and erosion. The risk to your mouth is much higher if you both smoke and drink.

Some drugs can:

• Cause dry mouth.
• Increase the risk of decay and gum disease.
• Lead to bad breath.
• Make you grind your teeth, causing damage and jaw pain.

HPV and mouth cancer

Some mouth cancers are linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV can spread through close contact, including oral sex. Vaccination helps reduce the risk.

If you are unhappy with your smile

Your dentist can talk to you about safe ways to improve the appearance of your teeth, such as:

• Braces to move teeth into a better position.
• Tooth whitening (only safe and legal for over 18s when done by a dental professional).

Cheap or unsupervised treatments can cause permanent damage.

Mouth piercings

Piercings in the mouth or tongue can cause:

• Infection and swelling.
• Chipped or broken teeth.
• Gum damage
• Problems with speaking or eating.
• Difficulty keeping the mouth clean.

They can also make dental treatment more difficult.

Protecting your smile

To keep your teeth and gums healthy:

• Brush last thing at night and once more during the day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean between your teeth daily.
• Limit sugary and acidic foods and drinks.
• Visit your dentist regularly.

Small daily habits make a big difference to your smile and your health.