As teenagers become increasingly responsible for their health and well-being, they begin to handle daily hygiene functions like dental care more effectively. Still, many teens overlook important aspects of maintaining good oral health. Here are five of the most common dental mistakes that teens often make.
Eating the wrong foods
Teens are notorious for eating junk food at parties or on an individual binge. Cake, cookies, pie, cupcakes, candy, soda, and other sweets play a big role in their diets. Unfortunately, sugary foods cause tooth decay. Parents of teens should encourage them to eat healthy fruit and vegetable snacks instead of sugar.
Failure to floss
Getting a teenager to brush once or twice a day is considered by some parents to be a monumental success. Getting a teen to floss is next to impossible, at least for some. Kids that age often lack the patience or interest in flossing along with brushing. It’s up to Mom and Dad to remind them until regular habits are formed.
Missing dental checkups
Teenagers enjoy going to the dentist about as much as going to school. Here again, parents need to remind them to make and keep twice-yearly exam appointments. Some dentists, like Dr. Bruce Hartley, specialize in a family dental practice. Teens should have no anxiety about visiting the dentist, knowing that it will make their teeth last longer and look better.
Over-whitening their teeth
Some teens are so eager to look perfect that they overdo the whitening process on their teeth. The result can be an unevenly bleached appearance or sensitive teeth. They should be reminded to whiten their teeth only occasionally, using products recommended by the dentist.
Not wearing their dental appliances
A significant number of teens wear dental appliances at some point in their youth. However, getting them to wear follow-up retainers consistently can be a challenge. Many teens do wear them the required number of hours per day, but others do not, which can allow newly-aligned teeth to slip back into their former crooked position. Parents should be vigilant in getting teens to wear retainers on a regular basis.
Teenagers are childlike in many ways. They are still growing and learning how to be responsible. They may need help in taking proper care of their teeth, especially anything beyond daily brushing. With reminders and a good example set by parents, most teens will fall into place with their dental habits for beautiful, long-lasting teeth.
