Teens And Oral Health
Each stage of parenthood seems to come with not only exciting milestones, but with challenges as well. In terms of your young loved ones’ dental health, each age comes with some challenges. Young children are learning how to properly care for their teeth and often need parental reinforcement to ensure they are removing all lingering bacteria. Teenagers come with a different set of dilemmas. Many teenagers are testing the boundaries of adulthood and have a tendency to push back on certain areas they feel are not important. Being that we were all teenagers at one point, we are sure you can remember doing the same. No matter what is going on in a teenager’s life, it is important for them to be mindful of their oral health. Decisions they make in their youth can have a big impact on the state of their oral health in the future.
Ways to Help Your Teen’s Oral Health
Whether you have a teenager at home or not, many of these helpful tips can apply to anyone in your household. The best thing you can do for your teenager and anyone in your household is to encourage healthy oral habits from a young age. Stress the importance of always brushing and flossing your teeth. This becomes extremely important if your teenager is in the process of orthodontic treatment. Traditional metal braces can cause lasting damage to the teeth when not cleaned and cared for properly. Other tips to help protect your teen’s teeth include:
- Limit soft drinks and sports drinks and encourage drinking water instead
- Provide healthy snack options and discourage fast food and junk food options
- Encourage brushing and flossing after meals, especially when wearing braces
- Discuss the dangers of sharing toothbrushes
- Have them wear a mouthguard when playing any sport
If you, your teen, or another loved one has not visited our office located in Bowie, MD recently for a hygiene examination, we encourage you to call today to schedule an appointment. Be sure to notify our office of any concerns that you might have. We look forward to seeing you and your family soon!
