What are the parts of the mouth?

Your mouth is made up of several parts including:

• lips
• teeth and gums
• hard and soft palates and uvula (these form the roof of your mouth)
• a tongue
• salivary glands

Your teeth allow you to chew your food and help you speak and smile. They have:

• a crown — the visible part, above the gumline
• roots — not visible, in the bone below the gumline

There are four types of adult teeth including:

• incisors — the front teeth in both the top and bottom jaws
• canines — the sharpest teeth, used for tearing food apart
• premolars — used to tear and crush food
• molars (including wisdom teeth) — used to chew foods

How do the teeth develop?

Baby teeth (primary teeth) usually appear from about 6 months of age but can appear anywhere from 3 to 12 months of age. Most children have all their baby teeth by the time they are 3 years old.

Between the age of 6 and 12 years of age, baby teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent adult teeth.

What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth also known as the third adult molar teeth. They usually grow through your gums around the age of 18 – 25 years. They are the last teeth to appear and are found at the back of your mouth, at the back of your upper and lower gums.

You can have up to 4 wisdom teeth, but they might only partially come through your gums or may never appear at all. Some people will not develop any wisdom teeth.

Common problems of wisdom teeth include:

• gum infection
• not enough room in your mouth for them, causing cheek biting and chewing problems
• impaction— when they come through at an angle and put pressure on the next tooth or the gums
• pericoronitis — when the gums around your wisdom teeth become inflamed

Wisdom teeth can also be difficult to clean, which in some cases may cause problems such as tooth decay.

You may need to have your wisdom teeth removed if they:

• don’t come through properly
• are impacted (stuck against nearby teeth or bone)
• are at risk of decay or gum infection
• are affected by a cyst or tumour

How can I look after my wisdom teeth?

If your wisdom teeth are coming through (erupting), there are things you can do to look after your gums, reduce pain and the chance of an infection:

• Brush the area thoroughly with a small-headed toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, even if this is uncomfortable. This helps get rid of food and plaque.
• Use an antibacterial mouthwash if there is pain from inflamed gums.
• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to help reduce pain and reduce the risk of infection. Mix half a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water.
• If you are in pain, you can get advice from your pharmacist, doctor or dentist on suitable pain relief medicines you can take.
• Cold packs can also be used to help relieve pain.

If you think your tooth may be getting infected, or if you have severe pain or swelling, you should make an emergency appointment to see your dentist.

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How can I keep my mouth healthy?

Keep your mouth healthy with these tips:

• Brush twice a daywith fluoridated toothpaste. Children need less fluoride than adults do. Your dentist or pharmacist can help you choose an age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss daily.
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
• Drink plenty of tap water and avoid sugary drinks.
• Have regular check-ups with your dentist — usually every 6 to 12 months.
• Avoid smoking.
• Reduce stress — this can lead to teeth grinding, mouth ulcers and cold sores.

Other ways to protect your teeth are:

• If you play a sport where there’s a risk of injury to your teeth(for example, rugby or boxing), you should wear a mouthguard.
• Avoid mouth piercings, as they increase your chance of mouth infections.

How can I prevent tooth decay?

Tooth decay is caused by the bacteria living in plaque on your teeth. These bacteria use the sugar in what you eat and drink to produce acid which causes holes in your teeth over time.

You can help prevent tooth decay by:

• Choosing food and drinks that are low in sugar — if sugar is listed in the top 3 ingredients on a food label, it’s usually not healthy for your teeth.
• Eating fresh produce rather than processed foods.
• Taking care of your oral hygiene, including regular trips to your dentist and brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

Anyone, even babies, can suffer from tooth decay, so it’s important to teach toddlers good oral hygiene.

Resources and support

For more information on mouth and teeth you can:

• Speak to your dentist or oral health professional.
• Call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Visit the Australian Dental Association website or find a local dentist through their Find a dentist
• Visit Queensland Government oral health for more information from birth through to teenage years, as well as oral health for people living with disability or health conditions.
• The Royal Dental Hospital offers advice on the effects of oral (mouth) piercings and how to minimise damage.

Do you prefer to read in languages other than English?

• NSW Health offers advice for multicultural communities about oral health care.
• The Dental Health Services Victoria has translated oral health information.

Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

• Mob Smiles provides information on how to care for your teeth and gums and habits to keep good mouth health.