02 Dec Dental Health Tips for Teenagers
Your permanent teeth are just that—permanent. They need to last for the rest of your life, and taking good care of them now will help you keep them strong and white. But cavities aren’t the only thing you have to worry about as a teenager. You also need to take good care of your teeth to prevent things like gum disease and premature stains.
Whether you’re a teen yourself or the parent of a teenager, we put together a short list of dental health tips specifically for teens.
Six Dental Health Tips for Teenagers
- Keep a tooth care kit in your backpack, locker, or car. You never know when a floss pick or some mouthwash might come in handy. Bad breath isn’t just embarrassing—it’s often a sign of tooth decay, so the more often you brush and floss, the better!
- Wear a mouth guard when you play competitive sports and during activities like mountain biking, white water rafting, or snowboarding. Sports-related injuries are one of the leading causes of tooth loss in teens and young adults.
- Don’t use vapes or other nicotine products like cigarettes or chewing tobacco. Not only does nicotine turn your teeth yellow, vaping also causes dry mouth and exponentially increases your risk of gum disease and tooth loss.
- If you want to keep your teeth white, you should also avoid sports drinks and energy drinks with artificial dyes. Habitually consuming energy drinks can stain your teeth, and the sugar and citric acid in sports drinks and sodas will also cause cavities.
- Visit the dentist every six months for a professional cleaning. Your dental hygienist can remove all the plaque and tartar buildup that causes cavities, gum disease, and stains. You can also ask your dentist about the best time to get your wisdom teeth removed.
- If you want to launch yourself into adulthood with a flawless smile, ask about getting Invisalign. Clear aligners are barely noticeable, and they can correct all sorts of issues like crooked teeth, gaps, underbites, overbites, and more.
Holistic Dental Care for the Whole Family in Prescott, Arizona
Ready to schedule your teen’s next exam and cleaning? We can answer all of your questions about getting wisdom teeth, Invisalign vs. braces, custom mouth guards, and more. Good dental health is important at every age, and keeping your teen’s teeth healthy is our priority. Contact us to make an appointment today.
Photo by Lital Levy on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 11/25/24.