3 Dental Tips Your Teenager Needs To Know

As a parent, you want the best for your child. From a good education and healthy body to love and compassion, you will want to give your child everything. Teaching younger children the importance of brushing and seeing their dentist can be difficult, but your teen will be able to understand the reasons behind these tasks. With these tips, you can instill the proper steps needed to protect the look and underlying health of your teenager's smile.

Make the Time for Brushing and Flossing 

Your teen is most likely occupied with school, hobbies, clothes, and friends, but they must make time to focus on their mouth, teeth, and gums. Make sure your teen understand the importance of brushing twice a day and flossing at least once per day.

While surprising to learn, an estimated 50 percent of the youth between the ages of 5 and 17 have a form of tooth decay. In many of these cases, the decay could have been prevented with proper brushing and flossing. Not only are these simple tasks necessary if they want a clean, white smile, but they will also reduce the risk of plaque, tartar, cavities, and gum disease.

Hydrate Well and Often

What your teenager drinks each day also plays a role in their oral health. Without staying hydrated, food particles and bacteria will build up in your teen's mouth, causing plaque, decay, and even gum disease over time. Drinking plenty of fluids will the mouth cool, moist, and hydrated, which is important for not only their oral health, but also their physical health.

Of course, it is important to note that your teen should avoid drinking certain beverages. If they participate in sports or other physical activities, they may consume large amounts of sports drinks. Energy beverages are also popular with teens. Unfortunately, these drinks contain large amounts of sugar, which can erode tooth enamel and cause tooth decay.

To stay hydrated, make sure your teen drinks plenty of water throughout the day.

Skip the Tobacco

Pressure from classmates and friends to do drugs, smoke cigarettes, and use chewing tobacco is actually more common than most parents believe. These habits may not seem to be serious problems, but they can grow into unhealthy, dangerous addictions.

Educate your teen on what can really happen to not only their bodies, but also their smile if they begin using drugs or tobacco products.

They may be shocked to learn that methamphetamine use causes "meth mouth," which is a devastating form of decay and tooth loss. In addition, tobacco products stain the teeth, cause foul breath, and increase the risk of cavities, gum disease, and numerous respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Check out sites like these to find more information.

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