Teenagers- A Time of Independence and Responsibility

Sports Drinks versus Water

Do you need to "put back what sweat has takes out?" Maintaining an adequate fluid intake during sporting activities is extremely important. Despite what the latest sports drink advertisements profess, the best fluid intake post-exercise is water. When we are dehydrated, the quantity of saliva produced is decreased, in an attempt to conserve and supply all available water to the vital organs of the body. With the decreased prevalence of saliva our teeth are particularly susceptible to the harmful affects of sugar, the major source of tooth decay, contained within the sports drinks.

BEWARE of the following, especially when dehydrated:

• Diet soft drinks - these are extremely acidic and are highly erosive to dental enamel.
• Fruit juice - usually acidic, even if freshly made.
• Water filters - don't use water filters that take out fluoride. Fluoride is the best protection against tooth decay.

Dental Floss

Use dental floss regularly to clean between your teeth. It helps prevent bad breath, swollen gums and decay in the interproximal (between teeth) spaces. Using dental floss effectively is just as important as tooth brushing.  

Do Not Smoke

Smoking constricts the blood vessels around your gums and reduces your healing response. Smoking stains the teeth, creates bad breath, ages your skin and makes prevention of gum disease very difficult. It's unwise to bleach your teeth if you smoke, as the tooth discolouration will quickly return.  

Wisdom teeth

You may find new wisdom (in the form of extra back molar teeth) coming through at about age 16 to 25. The problem is that many people do not have enough space in their mouth for these teeth to grow into a normal position - which results in 'impacted wisdom teeth.

Impacted wisdom tooth, which may cause pain as it pushes against adjacent teeth.

Whilst wisdom teeth erupt, a teething gel can relieve the subsequent pain. A mouth rinse (chlorhexidine) may also assist in keeping the area free from bacteria and infection.
For many, the only cure is to remove them. This can be simple or complicated depending on the site of the tooth and its proximity to the underlying nerve.

Orthodontics

Many teenagers have orthodontic treatment to straighten crowded/irregular teeth or correct jaw problems. When you have orthodontic treatment you need to:

1. Keep your teeth very clean through the use of interdental brushes and tooth brushes.
2. Prevent damage during sporting activities by using individually fitted mouthguards.
3. Watch your intake of acidic foods and drinks to prevent the development of demineralised enamel under the appliance, which will create white spots on your new beautiful smile.

After orthodontic treatment to straighten her teeth, this young patient was still unsatisfied with the look of her smile. Due to her natural tooth shape, spaces were still evident. To achieve a more desirable smile, the spaces were filled in with porcelain veneers and were bonded with composite resin (tooth coloured restorations). The results are amazing!