A Healthy Smile - Teens and Oral Health
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is important for overall health at any age, the teenage years being no exception. Brushing, flossing, maintaining a healthy diet and visiting your dentist on a regular basis help ensure a healthy and attractive smile. At a time when you're faced with making choices about many aspects of your life, it's important to consider the impact that certain behaviors and decisions - both positive and negative - can have on your oral health and the appearance of your smile for years to come.
{Eating Disorder related Oral Health Problems}
While eating disorders amongst teens can be very dangerous to health in itself, it can also affect your oral health.
Bulimia - binge eating followed by vomiting and anorexia - a fear of gaining weight that leads to not eating, and/or eating very little and then vomiting, are serious eating disorders that can cause poor oral health.
If you're tempted to pierce your lip, cheek or tongue, be advised that such piercings come with significant risks. Oral piercings put you at risk for chipping your teeth while eating, sleeping, chewing and talking. Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection and swelling may often occur with mouth piercings. The damage caused by tongue piercings can lead to tooth fractures that may ultimately need fillings, crowns or even root canals; swelling that possibly could restrict your breathing; and painful infections, difficult-to-control bleeding, blood poisoning and blood clots. Oral piercing could also lead to more serious infections, like hepatitis or endocarditis.
When you don’t get the proper nutrition needed, your gums and other soft tissue inside the mouth may bleed easily. The glands that produce saliva may swell and individuals may experience chronic dry mouth. Throwing up frequently can affect teeth too. That’s because when the strong stomach acid repeatedly flows over teeth, the tooth’s enamel can be lost to the point that the teeth change in colour, shape and length. The edges of teeth become thin and break off easily. Eating hot or cold food or drink may become uncomfortable.
Dentists can usually identify eating disorders based on the effects, and can recommend psychological counselling or offer a referral to a physician. Although dentists can restore teeth damaged by the acid erosion caused by the constant purging using dental crowns, composite fillings and other treatments, they cannot treat the eating disorder. So if you or someone you know is suffering with an eating disorder, call your physician or dentist for help.
Oral Piercing Damage
If you're tempted to pierce your lip, cheek or tongue, be advised that such piercings come with significant risks. Oral piercings put you at risk for chipping your teeth while eating, sleeping, chewing and talking. Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection and swelling may often occur with mouth piercings. The damage caused by tongue piercings can lead to tooth fractures that may ultimately need fillings, crowns or even root canals; swelling that possibly could restrict your breathing; and painful infections, difficult-to-control bleeding, blood poisoning and blood clots. Oral piercing could also lead to more serious infections, like hepatitis or endocarditis.
If you’re thinking of getting an oral piercing it can interfere with speech, chewing or swallowing. It may also cause:
●Infection, pain and swelling. Your mouth is a moist environment, home to huge amounts of breeding bacteria, and an ideal place for infection. An infection can quickly become life threatening if not treated promptly. It’s also possible for a piercing to cause your tongue to swell, potentially blocking your airway.
●Damaged gums, teeth and fillings. A common habit of biting or playing with your piercing can injure your gums and lead to cracked, scratched or even sensitive teeth. Piercings can also damage fillings.
●Hypersensitivity to metals. Allergic reactions at the pierced area could also happen.
●Nerve damage. After a piercing, you may experience a numb tongue that is caused by nerve damage but this is usually temporary. However, this can sometimes be permanent. The injured nerve may affect your sense of taste, or how you move your mouth. Damage to your tongue’s blood vessels can also cause serious blood loss.
●Excessive drooling. Your tongue piercing can increase the production of saliva.
●Dental check-up difficulties. The jewellery can get in the way of dental care by blocking X-rays.
If you already have piercings it’s good to keep the following in mind:
●Contact your dentist or physician immediately if you have any signs of infection: swelling, pain, fever, chills, shaking or a red-streaked appearance around the area of the piercing.
●Keep the pierced area clean and free of any matter that may collect on the jewellery by using a mouth rinse after every meal.
●Avoid clicking the jewellery against teeth and avoid stress on the piercing. Be gentle and aware of the jewellery’s movement when talking and chewing.
●Check the tightness of your jewellery periodically (with clean hands). This can prevent you from swallowing or choking if the jewellery gets dislodged.
●When taking part in sports, remove the jewellery and protect your mouth with a mouth guard.
●See your dentist regularly, and remember to brush twice a day and floss daily.
Academic Stress and Bruxism
At your age, it's not uncommon to occasionally pull an ‘all-nighter’ to cram for that big exam or begin to ‘stress out’ about being accepted to the college of your choice. Unfortunately, that stress could translate into dental damage if it leads to the unknowing grinding of teeth. Tooth grinding, also known as bruxism, wears down the teeth and in some cases, chronic teeth grinding can result in a tooth fracture, loosening or loss. The chronic grinding may wear your teeth down to stumps. These things may cause you to get bridges, crowns, root canals, implants, partial dentures and even complete dentures.
Bruxism could also lead to tempromandibular disorder (TMJ), a painful condition that makes it difficult to open and close the mouth. If you've noticed that your jaw is sore in the morning, you hear a clicking sound when opening or closing your mouth and your teeth are sensitive, you could be grinding your teeth at night.
Treating and Preventing Bruxism
If stress is causing you to grind your teeth, ask your doctor or dentist who will likely fit you with a night guard to wear to protect your teeth and help relieve your symptoms. Attending stress counselling, starting an exercise program, seeing a physical therapist, or obtaining a prescription for muscle relaxants are among some of the options that may be offered.
If a sleeping disorder is causing the grinding, treating it may reduce or eliminate the grinding habit.
Other tips to help you stop teeth grinding include:
● Avoid or cut back on foods and drinks that contain caffeine, such as colas, chocolate, and coffee.
● Avoid alcohol. Grinding tends to intensify after alcohol consumption.
● Do not chew on pencils or pens or anything that is not food. Avoid chewing gum as it allows your jaw muscles to get more used to clenching and makes you more likely to grind your teeth.
● Train yourself not to clench or grind your teeth. If you notice that you clench or grind during the day, position the tip of your tongue between your teeth. This practice trains your jaw muscles to relax.
● Relax your jaw muscles at night by holding a warm washcloth against your cheek in front of your earlobe.
● Avoid alcohol. Grinding tends to intensify after alcohol consumption.
● Do not chew on pencils or pens or anything that is not food. Avoid chewing gum as it allows your jaw muscles to get more used to clenching and makes you more likely to grind your teeth.
● Train yourself not to clench or grind your teeth. If you notice that you clench or grind during the day, position the tip of your tongue between your teeth. This practice trains your jaw muscles to relax.
● Relax your jaw muscles at night by holding a warm washcloth against your cheek in front of your earlobe.
Mouth Guards and Oral Health
During your teen years, socializing, fitting-in and looking good are important for building self-esteem. Maintaining a healthy and pleasing smile without damaged or missing teeth is part of the equation. If sports are part of your life, then a mouth guard should be, too. Mouth guards will help protect against chipped or broken teeth, root and bone damage, and tooth loss. Whenever there's a chance you'll be in contact with other players or hard surfaces, wearing a mouth guard makes sense. If you don't have one, see your dentist to be fitted for a custom and durable mouth guard.
The best mouth guard is one that has been custom made for your mouth by your dentist. However, if you can’t afford a custom-fitted mouth guard, you should still wear a stock mouth guard or a boil-and-bite mouth guard. If you wear braces or another fixed dental appliance on your lower jaw, your dentist may suggest a mouth protector for these teeth as well. A properly fitted mouthguard may be especially important for people who wear braces or have fixed bridge work. Although mouthguards typically only cover the upper teeth, your dentist or orthodontist may suggest that you use a mouthguard on the lower teeth if you have braces on these teeth too. If you have a retainer or other removable appliance, do not wear it during any contact sports.
Here are some tips for caring for your mouthguard:
● rinse before and after every use or brush with a toothbrush and toothpaste
● occasionally clean the mouthguard in cool, soapy water and rinse thoroughly
● transport the mouthguard in a sturdy container that has vents
● never leave the mouthguard in the sun or in hot water
● check for wear and tear to see if it needs replacing
● occasionally clean the mouthguard in cool, soapy water and rinse thoroughly
● transport the mouthguard in a sturdy container that has vents
● never leave the mouthguard in the sun or in hot water
● check for wear and tear to see if it needs replacing
Discoloured Teeth
Discoloured teeth can greatly affect the radiance of your smile. This can be quite a hindrance to enjoying a healthy social life during your teen years. There are many cause for discolouration, the main culprits being coloured food and drinks, smoking, medication, disease, the environment and just poor dental hygiene.
By making a few simple lifestyle changes, you may be able to prevent teeth discoloration. For example, if you are a coffee drinker and/or smoker; cut back or quit all together. Also, improve your dental hygiene by brushing, flossing, and using a mouthwash daily and getting your teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist once every 6 months.
If your teeth appear to be an abnormal colour without ready explanation and, if other symptoms are also present, make an appointment to see your dentist.
Although there are different approaches to whitening teeth, and many at-home whitening kits are available at drugstores or day spas, you’d be best advised to see your dentist before trying any whitening products. Without proper instruction, serious damage can occur to the teeth if whitening products are used incorrectly or inappropriately.
Your dentist is familiar with your mouth and the best tooth whitening options for you. Based on this knowledge, your dentist can supervise your tooth whitening to ensure that you achieve the results you're hoping for.
Crooked Teeth
Crooked, misaligned and crowded teeth are common problems among people in your age group. It may cause you to be self-conscious when you speak, laugh and smile. Crowded or crooked teeth are also difficult to clean and maintain. This may contribute to conditions that cause tooth decay, gum disease and eventual tooth loss.
Orthodontics is necessary to correct such problems in order to ensure proper oral health and function of the teeth in the future. You might have to wear a set of braces.
Fortunately, today's braces which are more comfortable, available in various colours, and can be placed on the lingual (back side) of teeth, provide orthodontists with more treatment options. What's more, in certain cases, the use of invisible and removable clear plastic aligners is available.
For more serious orthodontic treatment, you should go to a qualified specialist Orthodontist.
Impacted Wisdom Tooth
Having impacted wisdom teeth can be quite uncomfortable, no matter what age you are. Impacted wisdom teeth are third molars at the back of the mouth that don't have enough room to emerge (erupt) or develop normally.
Wisdom teeth are the last adult teeth to come into the mouth. Normally they appear (erupt) at the age of 17-19 years . Most people have four wisdom teeth at the back of the mouth — two on the upper arch and two on the lower arch.
Impacted wisdom teeth can result in pain, damage to other teeth and other dental problems. In some cases, impacted wisdom teeth may cause no apparent or immediate problems. But because they are hard to clean, they may be more vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease than other teeth are.
When an impacted wisdom tooth becomes infected, damages other teeth or causes other dental problems, you may experience some of these signs or symptoms:
● Red or swollen gums
● Tender or bleeding gums
● Jaw pain
● Swelling around the jaw
● Bad breath
● An unpleasant taste in your mouth
● Difficulty opening your mouth
● Tender or bleeding gums
● Jaw pain
● Swelling around the jaw
● Bad breath
● An unpleasant taste in your mouth
● Difficulty opening your mouth
See a dentist if you experience symptoms in the area behind your last molar that may be associated with an impacted wisdom tooth. Impacted wisdom teeth that cause pain or other dental complications are usually removed.
Halitosis
Halitosisis simply bad breath. And we all have encountered that one person who can clear a room just by opening his or her mouth. It’s not something you’d want to have as teenager. The most commoncauseofbad breathis poor oral hygiene.
If you don't brush and floss teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, promoting bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This causes bad beneath. In this case you can get rid of it simply by proper brushing and flossing.
However, if you have hard tater on your tooth surface which cannot be simply removed by brushing you should go to see a dentist to get a scaling done. You can also use an anti-bacterial mouth wash for a short period under recommendation of a dentist.
Smoking leaves chemicals that remain in the mouth which also cause bad breath. In some rare cases bad breath can occur due to systemic disease as gastric problems and lung diseases.
Brush your teeth!
Brushing is the most important procedure to protect your teeth. You have to brush at least twice a day in the morning and at night before going to bed. Fluoridated toothpaste is a must. You can use a floss to clean the interdental area but you need to get the advice of a dentist about how to do a proper flossing.
Tooth Decay
Besides being unsightly, cavities can also be very uncomfortable and painful if not taken care of. Cavities, also called tooth decay, are permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes. Cavities are caused by a combination of factors, including bacteria in your mouth, frequent unhealthy snacking, sipping sugary or cola drinks and overall poor dental hygiene.
Besides being unsightly, cavities can also be very uncomfortable and painful if not taken care of. Cavities, also called tooth decay, are permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes. Cavities are caused by a combination of factors, including bacteria in your mouth, frequent unhealthy snacking, sipping sugary or cola drinks and overall poor dental hygiene.
Cavities and tooth decay are among the world's most common health problems, especially common in children, teenagers and older adults. But anyone who has teeth can get cavities, including infants.
The symptoms of tooth decay vary, depending on extent and location. When a cavity is just beginning, you may not have any symptoms at all. But as the decay grows, it may cause signs and symptoms such as:
● Toothache
● Tooth sensitivity
● Mild to sharp pain when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold
● Visible holes or pits in your teeth
● Brown, black or white staining on any surface of a tooth
● Pain when you bite down
● Tooth sensitivity
● Mild to sharp pain when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold
● Visible holes or pits in your teeth
● Brown, black or white staining on any surface of a tooth
● Pain when you bite down
If cavities aren't treated, they can affect deeper layers of your teeth, leading to severe toothache, infection and tooth loss. Regular dental visits and good brushing and flossing habits are your best protection against cavities and tooth decay.
Modern Dental Procedures
Decayed or broken teeth can be filled with different restorative materials if it involves only the dentine of the tooth and not extending beyond that. This is called a simple restoration.If the carious lesion or broken part has exposed the inner part of the tooth (pulp cavity) it cannot be restored and nerve filling should be done. This is called a root canal treatment.Here, the nerves and pulp are removed, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed with a special material.
After root canal treatment, the part of the tooth appearing in the mouth, known as the coronal part, should be restored. This can be restored by a simple restoration or by placing a crown, which is a more expensive procedure. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped ‘cap’ that is placed over a tooth - to cover the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and improve its appearance. The crowns, when cemented into place, fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.
Replacing a missing tooth is the other important aspect. There are a number of methods available for this. A denture is the most common, simple and the most inexpensive method.
Dental bridges are used to replace one or more missing teeth. A bridge is a fixed dental restoration (a fixed dental prosthesis) used to replace a missing tooth (or several teeth) by joining an artificial tooth permanently to adjacent teeth.
Dental implants are another option. A dental implant is a surgical component that interfaces with the bone of the jaw or skull to support a dental prosthesis such as a crown, bridge or denture. It’s a surgical fixture that is placed into the jawbone and allowed to fuse with the bone over the span of a few months. It acts as a replacement for the root of a missing tooth and holds a replacement tooth or bridge. It’s the closest thing to a natural tooth because it stands on its own without affecting the nearby teeth. The process of fusion between the dental implant and jawbone is called "osseointegration." Most dental implants are made of titanium, which allows them to integrate with bone without being recognized as a foreign object.
Technology and science have progressed to greatly improve the outcomes of dental implant placement. Success or failure of implants depends on the health of the person receiving it.
Advanced restorative treatments like nerve fillings are provided in specialist units in Teaching hospitals and Specialized dental hospitals situated in Colombo, Peradeniya and Maharagama. However at present Dental implants are not provided in the Government sector hospitals.