What’s Behind
Your Smile?
How teeth can reveal risky behavior.
by Dr. Daniel Noor, DMD
TWEENS & TEENS News March 2008
If you think dentists just check for cavities,
think again. A dentist can diagnose and possibly
help kids suffering from a list of health problems,
from smoking to eating disorders. Teeth offer
clues about people’s health and habits.
While maintaining dental health is vital to
your health and well-being, it is equally important
to understand and break bad habits influencing
oral health.
Preventing Tooth Decay
Although the occurrences of tooth decay have
declined nationwide, it remains a problem
for some adolescents. That’s because
plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, constantly
forms on our teeth. When we eat foods or drink
beverages that contain sugar or starch, the
bacteria produce acids that attack the tooth
enamel. The stickiness of plaque keeps the
harmful acids against the teeth, which can
contribute to tooth decay.
A balanced diet includes a variety of foods
that give your body all the nutrients it needs.
Eating nutritious, well-balanced meals made
up of foods from the five major food groups
is the key to keeping your teeth healthy.
The five major food groups include: breads,
cereals or other grains; fruits; vegetables;
meat, fish, poultry or protein alternates;
and milk, yogurt or cheese.
To keep your smile looking bright, brush thoroughly
twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Choose
products that have the ADA Seal of Acceptance.
Clean between teeth with floss or another
interdental cleaner once a day to help remove
plaque. Also, maintain regular dental checkups
to provide the most care for your teeth.
Harmful Habits at an Early Age
A few common habits of kids may harm dental
health.
Some children have issues with their teeth
from an early age. For example, when children
go to bed with anything other than water to
drink, the result is severe tooth decay, and
often cavities. For babies, this is called
baby bottle syndrome. The sugar from the fluid
in the bottle stays on the teeth for long
periods of time causing the bacteria on the
child’s teeth and the sugar to mix.
This mixture forms a type of acid that eats
through the enamel and makes cavities. Dentists
sometimes use the term “Bottle Mouth”
to describe the mouth of a child who has such
cavities.
Thumb and or finger sucking is a habit that
can cause problems such as buck teeth, which
could eventually require orthodontic treatment.
Most children stop this habit on their own
between ages of 2 and 4. However, as it is
much easier to break any habit when it first
begins, encourage your parents to prompt your
younger siblings to stop sucking their thumbs
by age 4 to prevent dental problems in adolescence.
A bad habit that kids generally pick up is
using too much toothpaste and swallowing a
lot of it. By doing this, kids ingest too
much fluoride. This can cause a condition
known as fluorosis, forming white or brown
spots on the teeth in severe cases.
What to Look For
There are many signs that a person may have
an eating disorder, or a smoking or substance
abuse problem. The teeth are a valid source
indicating these issues, potentially highlighting
any problems you or your friends may have.
Bulimia nervosa not only harms overall health
but also is particularly destructive to teeth.
The digestive system contains strong acids
that break down food. These acids attack the
tooth enamel, and repeated vomiting can erode
the tooth enamel severely. Over time, teeth
exposed to stomach acids can become worn and
translucent. In addition, a bulimic person’s
mouth, throat and salivary glands may become
swollen and tender.
Anorexia nervosa is another serious eating
disorder that is harmful to one’s overall
health and the teeth. It is characterized
by an intense fear of weight gain, a desire
to become thinner and an inability to maintain
a minimally normal weight for one’s
height and age. People who experience bulimia
or anorexia do not receive adequate minerals,
vitamins, proteins and other nutrients needed
for good health. This takes a toll on the
teeth by robbing them of nutrients and making
teeth tender and discolored.
Substance abuse by adolescents is a serious
problem and prolonged use of drugs leaves
visible damage to the teeth and gums. Recent
data show that 40 percent of 10th graders
in the United States will use an illicit drug
at some time, and 18 percent will do so in
a 30-day period. The increasingly abused drug
methamphetamine leads to tooth decay that
is recognized starting at the gum lines and
spreading to the entire tooth. Methamphetamine
use causes gum disease, dry mouth and tooth
grinding, which can cause cracked teeth.
The health risks of tobacco are well known,
yet the rates of smoking and the use of chewing
tobacco continue to grow. Each day, a staggering
4,400 kids become regular smokers. It’s
essential to understand the dangers that go
along with using tobacco. Smoking is the leading
cause of preventable deaths in the United
States. Chewing tobacco (smokeless or spit
tobacco) can lead to nicotine addiction, oral
cancer, gum disease and an increased risk
of cardiovascular disease, including heart
attacks. Some symptoms of smoking related
to oral health include stained teeth and clothing,
which also can be signs of chewing tobacco
use, coughing, throat irritation, hoarseness
and bad breath.
Another important issue for tweens and teens
to consider is periodontal or gum disease.
This is an infection of the tissues that hold
your teeth in place. Periodontal or gum disease
is typically caused by smoking or poor brushing
and flossing habits that allow plaque—
a sticky film of bacteria— to accumulate
on the teeth and harden.
In advanced stages, periodontal disease can
lead to sore, bleeding gums, painful chewing
problems and even tooth loss. There are a
number of risk factors for gum disease, but
smoking is the most significant. In fact,
smoking can even jeopardize the success of
treatment. Depending on the extent of the
gum disease, treatments can range from professional
deep cleaning and medications to surgery.
While periodontal disease can be treated,
more importantly, it can be prevented. Daily
brushing and flossing, regular dental check-ups
and quitting tobacco use are the best defenses
against periodontal disease.
Parents and dentists alike have a responsibility
to detect and determine what kids are up to
by evaluating teeth and oral health conditions.
If you suspect your friends or siblings are
involved in a dangerous behavior affecting
their oral health, speak to a trusted adult.
Dr. Daniel N. Noor, DMD, attended George
Mason University located in Northern Virginia
for his undergraduate premedical education.
He graduated in 1997 with honors with a dual
degree in biology and chemistry. Dr. Noor
feels honored to work with several other highly
qualified doctors/specialists in various fields
of dentistry at his Park Avenue office. For
more information, e-mail Dr. Noor at dentalpride@yahoo.com
and visit his Web site at www.dentalpride.com.
