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Who doesn't remember their teenage years! That phase is full of growth, change, discovering oneself and plays a key role in shaping our personality in general. But, the teenage years are also known for one other thing-Dental Problems! There are several factors that cause dental problems in teenagers. First of all, as children enter the teenage years, there's a huge shift in their lifestyle, diet and habits. Secondly, this is the age when there's a significant growth and change in the body, including the teeth. Teenage years are the best time to instill good dental habits in children and to emphasise the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene. Good dental practices adopted at this age, become second nature for the children and help them avoid a lot of dental problems at a later stage in life.
At Dazzling Smiles Dental Clinic, Tarneit, we're committed to helping teens maintain healthy smiles that last a lifetime! Our blog this week quickly covers key points related to teen dental care tarneit that every teen and their parents should pay attention to during the crucial teenage years.
Teen dental care is important because during the teenage years, teenagers face different kinds of dental issues such as misaligned teeth, which require orthodontic treatments such as braces or aligners, wisdom teeth development, which may be painful and in some cases require a minor dental surgery, sports injuries etc. Plus, during teenage years, there are high chances of diet and routine going for a toss. For example, teens tend to consume food that's high in sugars and acids such as Colas, Pizzas, Burgers, etc., and follow inconsistent dental oral hygiene routines.
If teen dental care is ignored at that stage, it can result in cavities, gum diseases or long-term dental problems. At the Dazzling Smiles Dental clinic in Tarneit, we help parents monitor and address these challenges early to keep your teen's teeth in top condition.
Let's start with the basics-brushing and flossing. Yes, the most important steps in teen dental care are actually very simple. They are-brushing and flossing. Sure, your teen knows how to brush and even brushes daily, but are they doing it the right way? Here are some simple teen oral hygiene tips to follow when it comes to brushing.
Did you know that there are simple steps you can do to ensure your teen follows a good dental routine? For example, you could set reminders and timers on their or your phone to keep them on track when it comes to teen dental care. At Dazzling Smiles Dental, Tarneit, we also provide personalized advice to make oral care easy for busy teens.
Diet plays a big role in teen dental care. As discussed before, the teenage years are characterized by late night movies, sports events, exam preps, parties, which effectively translate into sugary snacks, soft drinks, energy drinks, etc., which are rough on teeth.
As a parent here are a few things you can do to make sure your teen follows a diet that is good for their dental health. Encourage them to have water over soft drinks and sugar-rich juices. We all know, teens love snacking, and you can't stop them from having a good snack. But, you can certainly replace unhealthy snacks with healthier options such as nuts, cheese and vegetables. Discourage your teen from chewing on ice or hard candies.
By making healthier choices, your teen can avoid tooth decay and enamel erosion. At Dazzling Smiles Dental, Tarneit, we guide families on making the best nutritional choices for their teeth.
Now, let's talk about the part of teen dental care that teenagers probably hate the most-braces, retainers or teeth aligners! During the teenage years, braces and teeth aligners are commonly used because it is during this time that the child has lost all their milk teeth and the permanent teeth have grown. At this time, if there's a dental alignment problem, it can be fixed easily using braces, retainers or aligners, as the jaw and facial bones are still growing making it easy to guide the teeth into the desired positions. However, just getting braces or aligners is not enough.
It's essential to follow the orthodontist's guidelines for cleaning and wearing them after the procedure. A lapse in care can undo months (or years) of progress.
If your teen is undergoing orthodontic treatment in Tarneit, Dazzling Smiles Dental, Tarneit offers expert advice and care, ensuring that the process stays on track and your teen's teeth remain healthy and aligned.
Between the ages of 17 and 25 is when the wisdom teeth, i.e. the third set of molars located at the very back of the mouth, usually begin to emerge. The growth of wisdom teeth can be a painful experience and also could result in other concerns. Since wisdom teeth in teenagers emerges after all of the other teeth are already in place, they tend to sometimes grow in a haphazard manner. For example, they may grow under the gums or sideways or push other teeth out of alignment by crowding, etc. In such cases, a minor dental surgery or tooth extraction may be required.
Regular dental check-ups at a trusted dental clinic such as Dazzling Smiles Dental, Tarneit will help you monitor the development of wisdom teeth and your dentist can guide you if your teen's wisdom teeth removal or need any kind of treatment.
Teenage years mean a lot of rough play. If your teen plays contact sports, it might be a good idea to get them a mouthguard. A mouthguard can prevent sports injuries such as broken teeth, jaw injuries and even concussions to some extent. However, the mouthguard has to be custom-made for it to fit properly. At Dazzling Smiles Dental, Tarneit, we offer custom-fit mouthguards to ensure that your teen's smile stays protected during sports.
Life is busy with teenagers, but please do not skip regular dental check-ups for teens. Make sure your teenagers visit a trusted dental clinic every six months. Regular visits to dental clinics help identify teeth problems early, reinforce good oral hygiene for teens, and keep their teeth healthy.
Now, let's take a look at a few frequently asked questions when it comes to teen dental care.
Due to their lifestyle and food habits, teenagers often have dental cavities, gingivitis, which is inflammation of gums, bad breath and eroding tooth enamel. They also face wisdom tooth issues or dental problems due to sports injuries.
Ideally, teenagers should get dental check-ups on a semi-annual basis, i.e. once every 6 months, even if they are not facing any dental problems. A visit to the dentist helps catch dental problems early and fix them on time before it grows into something bigger/more serious. So, routine dental check ups and examinations help. However, if your teen is already undergoing dental treatment. It's recommended that teenagers see the dentist every six months for a routine exam and professional cleaning. If your teen is wearing braces or is already undergoing dental treatment, then such dental check-ups may have to be more frequent.
Not really. But here are some dental hygiene practices to follow for good dental health in general, irrespective of whether you are an adult or a teen.
Your dentist at Dazzling Smiles Dental, Tarneit can recommend the best products based on individual needs.
For orthodontic care for teens in Tarneit can visit the Dazzling Smiles Dental Clinic, where they have access to a range of orthodontic treatments including traditional metal braces, ceramic or clear braces and even clear aligners like Invisalign.
Parents can inculcate teen dental hygiene routine in their teens by setting an example with their own dental hygiene. As a parent, you can also make sure all dental care products are stocked and visible in your teen's bathroom. Out of sight is out of mind! For example, for a teen rushing to go out to that football game, it is easy to skip a mouthwash gargle if the mouthwash is not handy. Make sure the toothpaste your teen uses has fluoride content in it. Take your teen for dental check-ups every 6 months. Also, keep talking to your teen about the benefits of maintaining good dental hygiene.
Schedule Teen Dental Visit in Tarneit at Dazzling Smiles Dental Clinic and help your teenager build strong dental habits for life!