Oral Health Care Tips for Parents of Teens

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Let’s face it, who really gets excited about oral hygiene? Adults don’t look forward to their daily oral health routine, so why do we expect our children and teens too? You can never get them as excited to brush and floss as they would be about playing a new video game, but arming them with the information to understand the importance of a healthy mouth is necessary. Here are a few tips to cover with your teen to help them with their healthy smile.

Discuss Healthy Diets 

It is important for your teens to understand how and why making healthy food choices is important. Not only for their dental health but for their overall health. With over 40% of the US population considered overweight and another 40% considered obese, it is imperative for them to understand that healthy food and beverage choices can help keep them from becoming one of these statistics. 

Watch What They Watch!

There are a shocking number of DIY braces videos circulating out there on social media or video sharing and streaming how to make braces at home using everyday supplies like rubber bands, paperclips, and even chicken wire! These can extremely dangerous and lead to infection, damage, and tooth loss. 

Be A Good Role Model

Lead by example and show your children and teens that you take your oral health seriously. Brush and floss each morning and evening and encourage them to do so with you. 

Make sure to schedule your children, and yourself, your bi-annual cleaning appointments. These are very important to maintain good oral health. Even with the most thorough cleaning at home, there are areas in your mouth that just can’t be reached and require the professional tools only available at a dentist.

Teens may need a little more encouraging so share with them these important issues that can develop without proper cleaning. 

  • Tooth decay and cavities
  • Gingivitis
  • Permanent tooth loss
  • Halitosis
  • Canker sores or other oral infections
  • Chipped or cracked teeth

Understand The Importance of Orthodontic Treatment

To help your teen avoid pain in their future, it is important for them to see an orthodontist when they are younger. An Orthodontist will be able to detect and treat misalignments which can affect them in the future. If left untreated, issues from a misaligned jaw can lead to uneven pressure to areas of their mouth or on their temporomandibular joints. This can create broken teeth and tooth loss, trouble eating, chronic pain, and permanent headaches.

Help your teen avoid these and other issues by scheduling their dental and orthodontic appointment today. Braces may be uncomfortable or embarrassing, but it is better than having to wear dentures at a young age. 

Give our office today to schedule your teen for their orthodontic consultation and evaluation at 281-225-6784.