Dental Health Concerns and Tips for Teens
The adolescent years can be challenging for your teenager.
Between making new friends, keeping up with extracurricular
activities and schoolwork, and obvious outward physical changes,
dental care can take a backseat on your teen’s priority list.
Without
consistent dental care, a teen who has had a clean bill of
dental health is susceptible to cavities. The good news is, the
selfie generation has helped many kids pay closer attention to
their dental health, which has dentists and parents everywhere
rejoicing!
With that said, it’s still important to ensure your teen is
brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day, and
receiving regular exams and cleaning from their
trusted Charlotte pediatric dentist. Now that
back to school season is approaching, it’s the perfect time
to re-evaluate your teen’s dental health habits.
We’ve compiled some of the most common teen dental health
concerns, along with helpful tips to keep your teen’s smile
healthy as they progress through their formative years.
Tooth Decay & Cracks
By the time a child reaches their pre-teen years, some may have
experienced slight tooth decay and/or minor damage to teeth. Tiny
cracks or chips can occur from sports or playing woodwind or brass
instruments in band, and may not always be visible to the naked
eye.
Your dentist can custom fit a
mouthguard to help protect your child’s teeth during
sports.
Dental Care and Orthodontics
Whether your teen has
traditional braces or Invisalign, your teen’s oral health
will require extra attention to ensure total success of their
orthodontic treatment. Special toothbrushes, flossing brushes, and
avoiding certain foods will help your teen achieve the bright,
healthy smile they’ve worked so hard for during their orthodontic
experience!
Wisdom Teeth
Children are often graced with the presence of wisdom
teeth in their later teen years. With age comes wisdom, and an
extra set of molars.
Wisdom teeth don’t always cause issues if they come through
correctly. If your child doesn’t have enough space in their mouth
for the teeth to form safely, problems can start to form.
Wisdom teeth that don’t come in properly can cause pain,
bacteria, and infections. If you notice wisdom teeth coming through
before your next scheduled exam, it is best to contact your dentist
so they can determine next steps.
Choose Healthier Snacks
Teens are often on the go, so their snack choices may not always
be tooth-friendly. Your teen needs fuel to stay alert and succeed
in school, extracurricular activities, and part-time jobs.
Avoiding sugary snacks will help them avoid a mid-day crash in
energy. Keep healthy snacks, like apples, carrot sticks, and cheese
on hand for your teen’s busy weekdays.
Encourage Dental Care On the Go
Keeping a travel-size toothbrush and toothpaste in your teen’s
backpack can help them stay consistent with their dental health
needs. If stopping to brush isn’t always possible, encourage them
to stick with water as their beverage of choice, and have some
on-hand to rinse after meals and snacks.
Keep Up With Regular Dental Exams
Make sure your teen is still receiving regular dental cleanings
and exams at least twice a year. If your teen expresses any
concerns in between appointments, or if you notice anything that
you suspect could be a dental issue, contact
us!
from General Dentist Hammond, Louisiana https://ift.tt/2zo1NYo
from Lingual Braces News https://ift.tt/2FDcBHB
from WordPress https://ift.tt/2RcMubV
Comments
Post a Comment