Teen Health

You live in a world of so much information that sometimes it's hard to be sure what's true and what's not.

Fact is, the way you care for your teeth has a big impact on your overall health. Both now and for years to come.

Want to be sure you've got the straight story? Check out the statements below to see how much you know.

True or False?

• Teeth can never be too white.
  False

  Overly whitened teeth actually begin to look gray or translucent. If your teeth begin to look this way, lay off the bleach for a while. A good rule of thumb is that your teeth shouldn't be any whiter than the whites of your eyes.

• If I don't get braces now, it will be too late.
  False

  There's no age limit on getting braces. If you want braces-or they have been recommended in the past-we work with a fine orthodontist who can discuss the best options for getting started.

• I can always use a whitener if I smoke.
  True

  You can use a whitener to minimize some discoloration. But the cost to your teeth is actually far greater than surface stains. Beyond what smoking does to your lungs (and breath), cancer-causing chemicals are continually coming in contact with your gums, your tongue and cheeks. That makes smoking the leading cause of mouth cancers.

• Drugs won't bother my teeth if I take care of them.
  False

  Every drug you take-whether prescribed by a doctor or not-changes your body in specific ways.

  Drugs taken for a high are biological stimulants with predictable effects. Among them, increased body temperature and surging energy. Both of which result in dry mouth, fierce thirst, and eventually sugar cravings to replenish energy.

  By that time, people aren't thinking about what's happening in their mouth. But the effects are as real there as anywhere else in your body.

  For example:

  • Hyperactivity prompts intense periods of teeth-grinding. Eventually, hairline cracks begin to form.
  • Dry mouth means that there's not enough saliva to keep decay-causing bacteria under control. It's only a matter of time before cavities show up.
  • Thirst and the need to re-fuel make soda like Mountain Dew a quick solution. In a dry mouth, however, the high sugar content and acid are disastrous for teeth and gums.

  What you may not know is how quickly damage to your teeth and gums can occur. Of the most popular drugs, meth seems to be the most vicious. If you haven't yet heard of meth-mouth (photo, opens in a pop-up window), here are the facts:

  • Within only months, tooth color can change to grayish brown. Permanently.
  • Teeth begin to twist in the gums and begin to fall out.
  • Tooth enamel changes to resemble ripe fruit.

  It has been said that people are most recognizable by their smile. Please, make the choices that protect your gifts and uniqueness. Including your smile.

• Bad teeth and bulimia go together.
  True

  Frequent vomiting and poor nutrition weaken and thin tooth enamel. Most damage occurs on the backside of the teeth so it goes unseen until a dental exam.

• Soda won't hurt my teeth if it's diet.
  False

  It's not just the sugar in soda that can cause damage. Diet soft drinks contain acid that attacks your teeth. And if you are drinking the diet versions of Coke, Pepsi, or Mountain Dew, that acid is almost as strong as what's in a car battery.

  For every sip you take, acid is on the attack for 20 minutes, weakening tooth enamel. The longer you sip, the more damage acid can do. And don't think that the sealants you got when you were a kid will protect you. Acid goes where the sealants aren't.

  The bottom line: Less is best. Milk is good. Water's better.

• Piercing my mouth is OK if I keep it clean.
  False

  Our bodies are designed to get rid of material it doesn't recognize. (Have you ever had a sliver work it's way to the surface?) That means your body isn't apt to take a piercing without a fight of some kind.

  While keeping any piercing super-clean is important, the likelihood of swelling and infection remain high because a staggering number of bacteria live in your mouth-up to 500 different species. In one month, your mouth can keep company with as many bacteria as there are people on the earth (over 6 billion).

  If you manage to avoid infection, there's still the effect piercing can have on your speech and jaw. Think of how you have to work around something like a cough drop to talk. Even though a tongue stud is smaller, your tongue and jaw will have to work around it, too, when you talk. Over time, jaw pain and headaches can follow. And who needs a headache?

• Chewing tobacco is safer than smoking it.
  False

  If anyone has told you that chewing is safer than inhaling, check out these photos.

  Users are 50 times more likely to get oral cancer than teens who don't. And there are a lot of users among your peers: up to 20% of high school guys and 2% of the girls are using. If you are one of them, you can't quite too soon.

• Milk is for little kids.
  False

  Between the ages of 11 and 14, girls build 60-80% of the bone strength that influences a lifetime of health. But that calcium blast isn't the end of the story.

  To keep your bones and teeth forever strong, calcium has to come from your diet. The guidelines are simple: Eat (and drink) dairy regularly and limit caffeine.

  For some easy calcium fun, check out these fun-to-fix recipes.