Healthy Mouths for Young Adults

Tooth decay• What it looks like• What causes it• How you can stop it from happening

How to look after your own teeth

How to look after your mouth

Healthy Eating

We’ll be looking at…

We use our teeth to

• Eat

• Smile

• Talk

Tooth decay …

…is one of the most common diseases

…it can be stopped

Tooth decay

Healthy teeth

If not treated leads to really bad decay

Starts as whitish linesacross the gum

See a dental person now

Becomes brown or yellow spots along the gum line

Get URGENT

dental treatment

now

What can cause tooth decay?

• Eating and drinking lots of sugary snacks and drinks

• Not brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste

Eat well

• Healthy meals – EVERYDAY FOODS

How Teeth Decay …• There are millions of GOOD

and BAD bacteria in our mouths

• The bad bacteria in plaque eats the sugar and changes it into acid

• The acid damages the enamel on the teeth

• Which then causes decay or holes in our teeth

Effect of sugar on the teeth

6

12

3

4

578

9

10

11 12

A M

1

2

3

4

567

8

9

10

1112

P M

(Acid levels in the mouth over 24 hours)

Morning

Acid

Neutral Afternoon

Eating Pattern Bad for Teeth

Morning

Acid

Neutral

(Acid levels in the mouth over 24 hours)

Afternoon

6

1

2

3

4

57

8

9

10

1112

A M

1

3

4

567

8

9

10

1112

P M 2

Healthy Snacks

BreadBreadsticks

Vegetables

Fruit SandwichesCrackers

Snacks that should be kept to mealtimes

Dried Fruit Biscuits

Sweets & Chocolate Cakes

• When it comes to thirst…drink tap water first!• Only water at night• Don’t have sugary drinks in-between meals

Drink well

Drink well

• Don’t carry fizzy drinks around in sport bottles – only use water

• Sugary drinks can cause decay and wearing away of teeth

Drinks that damage your teeth

Clean well• Brush teeth twice a day to stop decay and gum

disease• Use a small, medium toothbrush• Use fluoride toothpaste > 1450 ppm (see on tube)• Cleaning between teeth

1 2

3 4

With thanks to Pierre Fabre Oral Care for use of the pictures. http://www.ceutahealthcare.com

Gum Disease

Can be caused by…

• the build up of plaque

• lack of brushing

Stages of Gum Disease

Healthy Gums

Healthy Bone Levels

Pocket

Reduced Bone Levels

Gingivitis

Used by permission American Academy of Periodontology

Change your brush every 3 months

And don’t share

Flossing• For getting in

between the teeth where the tooth brush does not reach

• Reduces the chances of decay in between teeth and gum disease

Activity….

• Make sure you wear a fitted mouthguard for contact sports

• If you hurt your mouth or teeth get advice straight away

Play well

Stay well – stop smoking - benefits

• Savings – Approx £5 per day (if smoke 20 per day)

• Health – live on average 7 – 13 years moreless likely to get cancer (Lung and mouth cancer)

healthier life

Stay well - smoking

Piercings•Infection

•Cysts

•Nerve damage

•Increase risk of hepatitis, HIV, tetanus

•Damage to teeth

Eating Disorders

Visit the Dentist Regularly

Think Carefully

• On the effects that:

Unhealthy Eating

Smoking

Excess Alcohol

Drugs

Piercing

can have on your mouth

Guide to a Healthy Mouth

Good brushing twice a day with

fluoride toothpaste

A good balanced diet

Regular visits to the dentist

The healthier your teeth are the happier you will be!