Young individuals looking to reduce the risk of needing emergency dentistry should avoid smoking and alcohol consumption, it has been suggested.
According to the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF), underage people who take part in the acts could increase their chance of developing gum disease.
This news follows research from the NHS information centre, which revealed that 45 per cent of youngsters had consumed alcohol, while 27 per cent admitted to smoking.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the BDHF, urged parents to take action to prevent their children from taking part in the potentially dangerous activities.
"Smoking and alcohol are also the two predominant causes of mouth cancer and when combined they increase the risk of getting the disease by up to 30 times," he added.
Earlier this month, the BDHF warned teenage smokers about the dangers of neglecting their basic oral hygiene routines in a bid to reduce the risk of a number of health issues.
