Keep Your Teen's Smile Healthy
We can help ensure your teen's smile is healthy while transitioning into adulthood.
Teens Dentistry
Dental health for your teen offers a new set of challenges.
A dizzying number of changes strike during these formative years and parents often experience a few frustrations along the way.
Teens listen more than we realize and pestering parents can make a tremendous difference in their oral wellbeing. You might feel like you’re nagging, but teens are always listening. Believe it or not, the constant reminders to brush, floss, and eat well will sink in. Don't underestimate any encouragement given to help your teen avoid the long-term effects of cavities and gum inflammation.
Preventive visits every 6 months provide our staff with an opportunity to coach your teen and reinforce the efforts you're making with them. Sometimes teens be annoyed with their parent telling them what to do. However, they can be more receptive when an individual not so close to home instructs them. Our friendly staff can educate your teen in a respectful and effective manner. We can also use visual aids to show your teen oral hygiene techniques and explain why any problems may be occurring.
Tips on how to protect your teen’s dental health at home:
- Limit sodas and energy drinks. Sugary carbonated drinks are the number one cause of tooth decay in adolescents. Many 20-ounce bottles of soda have 18 teaspoons of sugar in an extremely acidic liquid. The combination can be devastating for teeth as well as for overall health. Maybe show your teen just how much 18 teaspoons of sugar is. They might change their feelings towards their favorite soda!
- Encourage brushing before bedtime. The hours spent sleeping can be especially harmful as the mouth dries out and bacterial plaque flourishes. Even if your teen gets annoyed with your brushing and flossing reminders, they’ll thank you in the long run!
- Explain the dangers of sharing toothbrushes. Your teen may think it’s no big deal to share their friend’s toothbrush at a sleepover. Wrong! Explain the dangers of sharing toothbrushes and that bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities can easily transfer from one person to another.
- Slip in dental floss or a toothpick with their lunch or backpack. Your teen may not know that brushing alone misses 35% of tooth surfaces. Plus no one wants to see what they ate for lunch hanging out in their teeth. A quick floss after lunch could help save them from unwanted cavities in the future.
Anatomy of a Teen’s Dental Checkup.
Examination.
We review many aspects of your teen’s health. Around age 16, we examine your teen’s teeth for possible orthodontic treatment as well as checking to see if they need wisdom teeth removal.
Imaging.
Cleaning.
After deposits are removed from your teen’s teeth, our fluoridated polishing paste leaves them with an ultra-smooth, shiny smile. Fluoride helps strengthen teeth, prevent future cavities, and slows bacterial growth.