Oral Health›Life stages

Teenagers and Oral Health

The teenage years bring braces, wisdom teeth, sport, energy drinks and new pressures. Here is what health bodies say about each, and where young people can get free or low-cost dental care.

Updated September 2026·By the OHA editorial team·8 min read·How we write
Key takeaways
  • Sugary and acidic drinks, including sports and energy drinks, can cause tooth decay and wear away enamel. Water is the best drink for teeth.
  • Hormone changes in puberty can make gums more likely to become red, swollen and bleed. Brushing twice a day and cleaning between the teeth help.
  • Wear a mouthguard for contact sports, and take extra care cleaning around braces.
  • Eating disorders can harm the teeth. A dentist can help, and conversations with them are confidential.
  • Dental care is free or low-cost for many young people: NHS treatment in England is free under 18, and there are schemes in Australia and the US.

Teenagers are old enough to look after their own teeth, but a lot changes at this age: wisdom teeth start to come through, many people have braces, and habits around food, drink, sport and smoking or vaping are forming.

Drinks and your teeth

The American Dental Association says sports and energy drinks can raise the risk of tooth decay in two ways: many contain a lot of added sugar, and they tend to be highly acidic, which wears away the protective enamel on teeth (tooth erosion, where acid softens and dissolves the tooth surface). healthdirect lists sports and energy drinks, soft drinks (including sugar-free ones) and fruit juices among the drinks that can cause erosion, and says frequent sipping keeps acid on teeth for longer.

The Australian Dental Association says sports drinks give little benefit for weekend or social sport and recommends tap water instead. The American Dental Association also says water is the healthiest drink for teeth, preferably with fluoride. See sugar, acid and your teeth for more.

Gum changes in puberty

The American Dental Association explains that hormone surges in puberty increase blood flow to the gums, so they react more strongly to plaque (the sticky film of bacteria on teeth). Gums can become red, swollen and bleed, and in some cases grow bigger. Some teenagers also get mouth ulcers, which usually heal on their own.

Its advice is prevention: brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth once a day and see a dentist regularly. See bleeding gums and gum disease.

Braces

The NHS says braces are often recommended once all the adult teeth have come through, and that keeping teeth and braces clean is very important. It advises:

  • brushing with fluoride toothpaste in the morning, at night and after meals
  • using an interdental brush to clean between the teeth and under the wire every day
  • cutting down on sugary food and drinks
  • avoiding hard, crunchy or sticky foods and chewing gum, which can damage braces
  • keeping up regular dental check-ups as well as orthodontic visits

Our braces and aligners guide covers types of braces, NHS eligibility and retainers.

Wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to come through, furthest back in the mouth (Better Health Channel). The NHS says they usually start to appear in your teens or early 20s, and the Australian Dental Association says they usually appear between 18 and 25. They do not always cause problems, but the American Dental Association and the Australian Dental Association both say a dentist can check how they are developing, including with X-rays, before trouble starts. See wisdom teeth.

Sport and mouthguards

The American Dental Association advises a mouthguard for organised sport and for activities such as skateboarding or snowboarding, because it cushions a blow to the face and lowers the risk of broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue and jaw. See sports mouthguards.

Mouth piercings

The American Dental Association says infections from mouth piercings can make the tongue swell so much that it is hard to breathe, and can lead to serious infections elsewhere in the body, such as hepatitis or endocarditis (an infection of the lining of the heart). Jewellery can also break, chip teeth or wear away enamel. Our oral piercings article covers the risks and aftercare.

Smoking and vaping

The American Dental Association says tobacco in any form can stain teeth, cause painful bleeding gums, raise the risk of decay and tooth loss, and cause mouth and throat cancer. It says nicotine, which vapes and nicotine pouches contain, is highly addictive and affects brain development in teenagers and young adults. The Australian Dental Association says many teenagers vape because they think it is safe, which is not true, and that vaping may increase the risk of mouth cancer and gum disease.

In the UK, the NHS says e-cigarettes cannot be sold to anyone under 18 and are not recommended for people who do not smoke. Our smoking, vaping and oral health article covers the evidence and where to get free help to stop.

Eating disorders and the mouth

The NHS describes an eating disorder as a mental health condition where someone uses control of food to cope with feelings or situations. It says anyone can get one, teenagers and young adults are mostly affected, and with treatment most people recover.

The Australian Dental Association lists signs a dentist may notice, including teeth worn by stomach acid from vomiting, chipped or sensitive teeth, more decay, a dry mouth and swollen salivary glands. It says a dentist can help repair damage and link you with a GP for further support, and that conversations with your dentist are private and confidential.

After vomiting, both the American and Australian Dental Associations say not to brush straight away, because acid softens the enamel. Their advice then differs: the Australian Dental Association says to wait at least 60 minutes, and in the meantime drink milk or water or rinse with a fluoride mouthwash; the American Dental Association suggests rinsing with baking soda to neutralise the acid.

Where to get support

  • UK: the NHS says to see a GP as soon as you can. You can also talk in confidence to the eating disorder charity Beat on 0808 801 0677.
  • Australia: the Australian Dental Association points to the Butterfly Foundation (1800 33 4673). To talk to someone immediately, it lists Lifeline (13 11 14) and Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).
  • US: the American Dental Association says it is important to talk to your health care provider.

Check-ups and free or low-cost dental care

The NHS says the gap between check-ups can be up to 1 year if you are under 18, depending on the health of your teeth and gums. healthdirect suggests a check-up every 6 to 12 months. See dental check-ups.

  • England: the NHS says dental appointments and treatment are free if you are under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education. This covers NHS treatment, not private treatment.
  • Australia: the Child Dental Benefits Schedule is a means-tested programme that pays some or all of the cost of basic dental services for eligible children aged 0 to 17, up to a capped amount (Australian Government Department of Health). healthdirect says you do not need to apply: Services Australia writes to tell you if your child is eligible.
  • US: Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) cover dental care for eligible children and teenagers, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. They are run by each state, and you can apply at any time of year. The American Dental Association says insurers on the Health Insurance Marketplace must offer dental coverage for children under 18.
When to see a dentist
  • Your gums bleed, are swollen or sore and it does not settle with careful brushing and cleaning between your teeth.
  • Your teeth are painful for more than a few days after braces are fitted or adjusted, your gums are very red or swollen with braces, or a brace breaks (the NHS says to contact your orthodontist).
  • Your teeth look worn, chipped or more see-through at the edges, or have become sensitive.
  • You have pain or swelling at the back of your mouth where a wisdom tooth is coming through.
Get help urgently
  • An adult tooth has been knocked out: the NHS says to put it back in if you can, or keep it in milk or saliva, and get an emergency dental appointment. See dental emergencies.
  • Swelling of the face or jaw, a high temperature, or intense tooth or gum pain may be a dental abscess, which the NHS says needs an urgent dental appointment or a call to NHS 111 (or your local equivalent).
  • Call 999 (or your local emergency number) if you are finding it hard to breathe, speak or swallow, or have a lot of swelling in your mouth (NHS).

Frequently asked questions

Are energy drinks bad for your teeth?

They can be. The American Dental Association says many contain a lot of added sugar and are highly acidic, raising the risk of both decay and erosion.

Why do my gums bleed now I am a teenager?

The American Dental Association says puberty hormones make gums react more strongly to plaque, so they can become red, swollen and bleed. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between your teeth daily usually helps. See a dentist if it carries on.

Will my dentist tell my parents if I have an eating disorder?

The Australian Dental Association says conversations with your dentist are private and confidential, and that a dentist can help you get support from a GP. If you are unsure, you can ask your dentist how confidentiality works before you talk.

Sources

  1. Who can get free NHS dental treatment or help with dental costs, NHS, accessed September 2026
  2. Dental check-ups, NHS, accessed September 2026
  3. Braces, NHS, accessed September 2026
  4. Wisdom tooth removal, NHS, accessed September 2026
  5. Using e-cigarettes to stop smoking, NHS, accessed September 2026
  6. Eating disorders: overview, NHS, accessed September 2026
  7. Knocked-out tooth, NHS, accessed September 2026
  8. Dental abscess, NHS, accessed September 2026
  9. Dental erosion, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  10. Dental check-up, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  11. Child Dental Benefits Schedule, Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, accessed September 2026
  12. Oral health for children and teenagers, Better Health Channel (Victoria), accessed September 2026
  13. Sports drinks, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  14. E-cigarettes and vaping, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  15. Disordered eating, eating disorders and oral health, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  16. Dental Health Week 2026, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  17. Dental concerns for teens, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  18. Hormones and dental health: what every woman needs to know, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  19. Eating disorders, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  20. 7 ways to find free or low-cost dental care, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  21. Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP): 5 facts for families, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org), accessed September 2026

This article is general information about oral health. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a dentist or doctor who knows your situation. If you have pain, swelling, bleeding that does not settle, or a problem that is getting worse, see a dental professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service.

Children's Teeth: From First Tooth to Adult Teeth
When teeth come through, how to handle teething, when to see a dentist, and how much toothpaste to use at each age. The toothpaste advice differs between the UK, Australia and the US, so each is set out separately.
Tongue-Tie in Babies and Children: Signs, Assessment and Treatment
What tongue-tie is, the feeding signs to look for, how it should be assessed, what the division procedure involves, what the evidence shows, and where to get help in the UK, Australia and the US.
Dummies and Thumb Sucking: Effects on Teeth and How to Stop
Why babies and young children suck dummies, thumbs and fingers, how a long-lasting habit can affect the teeth and bite, how to use a dummy safely, and how to help a child stop.