If you are the parent of a teen, you may already have some concerns about your child’s diet and dental health. As young men and women progress toward complete independence, some make questionable choices.
You may know teens who skip meals and others that eat ramen noodles for lunch and dinner. Some spend more hours on Instagram than sleeping. Braces can hinder proper brushing. Eating disorders such as bulimia can quickly erode enamel and damage a smile.
These habits can have a lasting impact on your teen’s dental health. Let’s discuss some essential dental issues for adolescents.
The third molars usually appear between late adolescence and the mid-twenties. Common wisdom teeth problems include bite misalignment, tooth decay, gum disease, and damage to the nearby teeth. It is vital to monitor wisdom teeth and follow the guidance of your dentist.
Parents who notice their young adult abnormally preoccupied with body image and weight loss should be on the lookout for bulimia and anorexia. These serious disorders should not be ignored. Parents are advised to seek treatment immediately if they discover that their teen is binging and purging or intentionally restricting food.
Oral Health and Orthodontia
Braces can make proper brushing challenging. Toothbrushes and flossing devices that squirt water can help youth with braces clean their teeth and gums.
If you visit any Arizona high school during lunch hour, you will see that sugar-laden soda, juice, and energy drinks are becoming a beverage staple. (Perhaps we adults are setting a bad example.) While juice is definitely the healthiest choice of the three, heavy juice consumption can impair enamel just as effectively as a can of Coke. Water is the best drink for teeth as well as calcium-rich milk, which leads us to our next section.
Inadequate Calcium Intake
Some youth who drank milk daily as kids curtail their consumption when they start eating meals away from home. This is unfortunate because calcium is just as indispensable for youth as it is for younger children. For strong teeth and bones, encourage your teen to enjoy low-fat dairy products daily.
Athletics benefit youth in a number of ways but, unfortunately, also pose a threat to teeth. Make sure your teen wears a protective custom mouthguard when participating in any activity where a mouth injury can occur.
We encourage parents to be vigilant about twice-yearly dental exams and cleanings for their teens. Many oral issues arise unnoticed. To schedule a comprehensive examination and cleaning, call On Call Urgent Dental Care – Emergency Dentistry at 480-800-8078.
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