Teen Dental Concerns

When we talk about cavities or gum disease, we generally think of little kids or even the elderly. But as they grow up, cavities, braces or bad breath are a few new problems that teenagers are grappling with nowadays. They have a busy schedule and tend to have different kinds of food habits, so good oral hygiene habits definitely lag behind. Therefore, parents need to monitor their oral care and ensure a check-up every six months.

Contributing Factors

Dietary Habits
Excessive sugar content in consumed food substances and the bacteria present in dental plaque are the main reasons for dental decay in teenagers. Teenagers have a strong liking for cola drinks, twit juices, sticky chocolates and junk foods. The trouble begins when these food substances are in constant touch with the teeth. These beverages contain acid and frequent consumption of junk foods can easily contribute to the increase in bacteria that cause cavities and result in tooth decay.

Improper Oral Hygiene
Due to lack of time, behavioural issues and hormonal changes, teens are unable to maintain healthy oral hygiene, which can often lead to gingivitis. The bacterial plaque around the teeth causes an inflammatory response and the gums become red, inflamed and bleed while brushing. This condition can end up requiring special attention by the dentist.

Eating Disorders
Teenage girls commonly suffer from eating disorders like bulimia, anorexia nervosa or binge eating. Presently, it has been noticed that these eating disorders are rising among the boys as well. In cases such as these, the symptoms vary from a frequent dry mouth, dental erosions, gingivitis and dental caries. Such children require regular check-ups with the dentist to maintain oral health.

Teeth Alignment
Crowded or misaligned teeth are one of the most important problems found in teenagers. This in turn, causes inadequate cleanliness of tooth surfaces sometimes leading to dental canes and gingivitis. Such problems require orthodontic consultation for treating dental irregularities, which can help in making the oral cavity healthy.

Teenagers may have many unknown dental concerns so, scheduled regular dental visits and examinations can help teens to identify their problems and treat them on time.

Tips For Clean And Healthy Teeth

Brush twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride containing toothpaste and make sure all the soft plaque around the teeth is removed. Flossing once a day keeps the gums very healthy. Brushing and flossing regularly improves gum health and prevents dental caries.
In case of hardened plaque and calculus deposits, it is important to visit a dentist and get a professional scaling and polishing done as well as follow instructions given by the dentist
Mouthwash is another way of ensuring dental hygiene. fluoride containing mouthwashes are recommended for teens to prevent dental caries.
Teens prone to dental canes or who are at risk of tooth decay may also prefer to go for dental sealants ¡n the fissures and grooves of their molars to prevent bacteria from growing there.
Dental professionals can provide referrals for teens that might need to begin the process of recovery from eating disorders. Regular counselling and check-ups can help them settle sooner.
Proper counselling can help teens choose the right kind of food for their health. Continuous motivation to have a nutritious diet and choosing fresh twit juices over carbonated drinks and tetra pack juices can help teens have consistent dental health and prevent caries and other gum diseases.
Last but not the least, many sugar free chewing gums can be used after meals or snacks that can help to cleanse the mouth. Drinking water throughout the day also helps to dean the teeth and prevents decay.

Teenagers have a strong liking for cola drinks, fruit juices, sticky chocolates and junk foods. All these contribute to the increase in bacteria that cause cavities and result in tooth decay