It's Time to Put Your Smile Back on the Priority List
If you're 18 to 25, chances are your to-do list has never been longer! Let’s keep your oral health a priority.
Moving out of home. Starting University or a first job. Learning to budget, cook, adult. If you're 18 to 25, chances are your to-do list has never been longer, and somewhere along the way, thorough care for your teeth probably dropped off it.
You're not alone, and it’s exactly why Dental Health Week (3-9 August 2026) is putting the spotlight on your age group this year. The Australian Dental Association's "My Smile" campaign is a reminder that oral health is often the first thing to give when life gets busy, with many young adults not seeing a dentist again until something actually hurts.
“One trend we notice is that once patients turn 18 or move out of home, they’re less likely to book their regular preventive dental appointments. These years can bring significant lifestyle changes, including a different diet, increased consumption of sugary drinks, and the introduction of alcohol. As a result, a previously healthy mouth can change surprisingly quickly. That’s why maintaining regular dental check-ups during young adulthood is so important, allowing us to detect problems early, provide preventive care, and help keep smiles healthy for years to come.”
Dr Jillian Fisher
Don't wait for pain: Wisdom Teeth
Your wisdom teeth (the adult third molars) are usually the last teeth to arrive, showing up somewhere between 18 and 25 years of age. For a lot of people, there just isn't enough room for them, so they become impacted, meaning they're stuck partway in, or under the gum.
Left unchecked, an impacted wisdom tooth can quietly lead to:
- Infection
- Pain and jaw stiffness
- Gum disease
- Tooth decay
- Cysts forming around the tooth
A check-up (with an X-ray if needed) shows your dentist exactly where things stand. If a wisdom tooth is likely to cause problems, removing it earlier, generally before 25, tends to be far more straightforward than waiting until it's an emergency.
Before you book that cosmetic dental treatment, talk to us first
In this social media age, it's natural to turn to our favourite online personalities and influencers for recommendations and advice, and that often extends to cosmetic dental treatments.
“Social media often highlights immediate results rather than long-term outcomes, so it’s important to seek trusted advice from a qualified dentist before making decisions about your oral health.”
Dr Jillian Fisher
Treatments vary hugely in what they actually involve:
- Whitening: bleaching gel lightens natural tooth structure, but won't change the colour of fillings, crowns or dentures
- Orthodontics (including Invisalign): clear aligners or braces that move teeth into a straighter position
- Veneers: a thin layer bonded to the front of the tooth, which usually requires some polishing of the natural tooth surface
- Crowns: a full cap over the tooth, requiring more of the natural tooth to be reshaped
Before any of that, your dentist will want to treat any underlying dental disease first, since your health always comes first. Our simple advice: stop, pause, and talk to your dentist before you commit to anything you've seen online.
Protect your smile on the field
If weekend sport is part of your routine, your teeth are more exposed than you might think. Cracked, chipped or knocked-out teeth are common sporting injuries, and the damage can mean a lifetime of dental treatment for a single moment on the field.
Mouthguards: A custom-fitted mouthguard, made by your dentist from a mould or 3D scan of your teeth, gives the best protection. It fits securely, is easy to talk and breathe in, and spreads the force of a knock across your jaw. Store-bought options are better than nothing, but they often fit poorly and can affect breathing and speech.
Sports and energy drinks: A 600ml sports drink can contain around 8.5 teaspoons of added sugar, and even sugar-free versions are still acidic (roughly pH 2.7-3.14), which can wear away tooth enamel over time. Water remains the safest choice for staying hydrated.
Booking a check-up shouldn't be another thing on your plate
We get it, between work, uni and everything in between, finding time for a dental appointment can feel like one more thing to juggle. That's why we make it easy to fit a check-up around your week, not the other way around:
- Flexible appointment times, including early, late and weekend options across many practices
- 24/7 online booking, so you can lock in a time whenever it suits you, no phone calls required
- Flexible payment options including SmileFund and Afterpay, so cost is never the reason you put off a visit
This Dental Health Week, make the call!
None of the above is about scaring you, it's about catching small things before they become big, expensive, or painful problems. Preventative care is almost always cheaper and less invasive than treating a problem after it's taken hold.
This Dental Health Week, put your smile back on the priority list.
This article shares general information only and is not a substitute for personalised advice from your dentist. Always consult your dentist to discuss what's right for you.