Blowjobs and tackies are ruining your teeth

Christchurch-based dental hygienist Megan Wilkinson, 29, has a pink-themed surgical room to “make [her patient's environment] as least anxiety-provoking as possible.”

Oral diseases wreak havoc across the globe. These diseases have affected and continue to cause issues for nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide.

The World Health Organization has sounded this alarm in their latest ‘Global Oral Health Status Report’; you might even be included in this statistic or on the brink of adding to it.

Tooth decay, gum diseases, tooth loss, and oral cancers top the list of common oral health problems. The most unfortunate part? Most of these problems can be prevented and treated if caught early enough.

Feeling concerned? Well, Christchurch-based dental hygienist Megan Wilkinson is here to help.

Wilkinson has some hot tips for us students on how to take better care of our teeth and oral health. For some, this may mean laying off certain activities… (yes, I do mean blowjobs).

Hot tip #1: Wilkinson recommended brushing your teeth twice daily for at least 2 minutes and to “bloody floss your teeth.”

Brushing alone only cleans about 70% of your teeth, so flossing is essential. Flossing actively dislodges and removes plaque and trapped food debris between your teeth. When left unattended, this plaque can lead to cavities, gum disease, bad breath and turn into tartar. 

“You can’t remove tartar at home, so you’ve got to come and see me, or another dental professional, to remove it.”

If tartar is not removed, it can cause the bone around the tooth to erode, leading to wiggly teeth and, eventually, tooth loss.

Hot tip #2: Use fluoride toothpaste and spit; do not rinse. Fluoride in toothpaste provides teeth with 12-hour coverage from decay and bacteria during the day, so brushing twice daily is essential!

Hot tip #3: Only brush before or 1-2 hours after eating or vomiting!

“When you chunder after a drink, or if you tactile chunder […] the worst thing you can actually do is brush your teeth straight away,” she said.

Wilkinson explained that consuming anything other than water introduces acid into the mouth. This includes vomiting, which regurgitates stomach acid.

When you eat or vomit, the acid stays in your mouth, causing the enamel to become softer. Thus, if you clean your teeth right away, you are basically rubbing your acid into your teeth and mechanically removing the enamel.

Wilkinson said the best thing to do in those situations is to chew sugar-free gum or use an alcohol-free mouthwash so that fluoride can help remineralise your teeth.

"But let's be realistic. We know what student life is like, even if you're wasted and you're just about to pass out. If I can ask you to do anything, [use] a bit of mouthwash, spit it out, and then go to bed," she said.

Speaking of spitting, be careful when giving blowjobs– hot tip #4!

Oral cancer can result from smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, or even HPV infections. It is a significant health concern, with lip and oral cavity cancers ranking as the 16th most common types of cancer worldwide.

You can contract STIs of the mouth through oral sex as well, so be cautious about who you share a bed with and get tested if you're unsure!