It can be difficult to talk to teens about anything – let alone their teeth. However, it’s important to have those conversations with your child from a very early age so that they are more readily accepting of those habits after they hit the teenage years. You can tell them all the technical stuff you want, but perhaps you would have more luck if you stuck to the things that matter to them the most: neglecting proper oral hygiene can lead to bad breath and yellow teeth.
If these aren’t a motivating factor, we don’t know what is! Teens have a lot to worry about as they move through these precarious years, from braces to wisdom teeth to facial appearance. Achieving a healthy smile starts in childhood when you teach them the importance of brushing and flossing at least twice a day and eating the right kinds of foods.
As your teenager grows, they faces many dental issues – all of which can be a part of normal life for that age group. However, there are some topics of discussion that you can actively engage in with your child on a regular basis. Those include:
What Causes Bad Breath?: Known by its technical name halitosis, bad breath is a result of bacteria that sticks to the tongue. If your teen suffers from chronic halitosis, the good news is there are a couple of easy ways to remedy this, such as brushing the tongueas well as the teeth, gargling with antiseptic mouthwash and visiting the dentist regularly.
Nixing the Smoking: Tobacco use is a big culprit when it comes to yellow teeth. However, that’s not all that smoking does – it can cause cancer, gum disease, bad breath, and even a diminished sense of smell.
Teeth Whitening: If your teen is self-conscious about yellow teeth, discuss with your dentist options available for teeth whitening. There are many over the counter home remedies they can try, such as whitening toothpastes, rinses, creams and strips, or a visit to the dentist can yield stronger solutions.
Oral Piercings: Many teens feature lip or tongue piercings for fashion appeal but truth is, these items can pose many problems for teens, such as speech impediments, fractured teeth, gum recession and even a risk of swallowing and choking on the piercings.
In addition to all of the above issues, teens can fall victim to other problems occurring with the teeth and jaw, just like everyone else. These include overbites, underbites, cross bites, crowding, gaps, and misplaced midlines. All of these issues can be detected by a dentist and solved through braces by an orthodontist. This is why visits to the dentist every six months are so crucial for teens – even though it’s increasingly difficult to get them there because of all their sports, after-school activities and jobs.
Make your teen’s appointment now with Drs. Savage, Sabol and Visser by calling 757-428-1110.
