Poor dental hygiene leads to bad breath, yellowing teeth, and red gums. But now for the good news: preventing teen dental issues can be easy, and encouraging a strong dental hygiene routine makes all the difference. Whether you’re a parent of teens, or a teen yourself, here are five tips for dental care in mind.
Get regular cleanings and x-rays.
Make sure to visit the dentist at least twice a year for a cleaning and a checkup. Teens, like adults, should get regular checkups with a dentist to ensure that they aren’t experiencing tooth decay, gum disease, or other oral health issues. X-rays can also be helpful for detecting wisdom teeth before they start to become painful.
Take care of those wisdom teeth.
It’s common for wisdom teeth to develop behind the back molars during our teenage years. Wisdom teeth are at risk of growing unevenly, damaging the surrounding teeth, and causing oral infections. If your teen’s dental x-ray shows signs of wisdom teeth, talk to your dentist about scheduling an appointment with an oral surgeon to get them removed — before they cause serious dental problems.
Wear mouth guards during risky sports.
High-octane sports like soccer, basketball, and football increase your teen’s risk for dental trauma and broken teeth. In junior high and high school, these sports will become more intense. Chipped or broken teeth can be costly to fix, and cracked teeth can lead to infections or abscesses if left untreated. Talk to your teen about wearing a mouthguard during risky sports to decrease the chance for dental injuries.
Keep an eye out for gum disease.
Adults genetically at risk for gum disease often begin to show warning signs in their teen years. This is especially true for teenage girls. If your teen is experiencing inflamed, red, or sensitive gums, make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible to learn about treatment options for gum disease.
https://espiredental.com/5-dental-care-tips-for-teens/
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