I have always envied those around me who seem to always have perfect smiles without even trying, because I feel like I was born with "bad teeth." While my teeth are in great shape now, it is only because I take great care to visit the dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning and maintain good oral hygiene habits at home. While I used to get a lot of cavities, even though I thought I was doing "everything right" to keep them away, I am proud to say that I have been cavity-free for a couple of years now! I put a lot of research into what daily habits can wreak havoc on my teeth, and I thought it would be a shame not to share what has helped me with others who need the advice. I plan to post many oral health tips on my new blog!
As the parent of a teen, you probably want to do everything that you can to help your teen stay healthy. This means that you might worry about things like their oral health. Not only is it good for you to do what you can to encourage your teen to maintain good oral health, but it's also good for you to do things like taking your teen to the dentist on a regular basis. A family dentist can help your teen with maintaining good oral health in their teen years and beyond in the following ways.
Providing Advice About Proper At-Home Cleaning
Your teen has probably been brushing and flossing their own teeth at home for years now, but there's a chance that they still need some advice. For instance, they might need guidance about the type of toothbrush that they should be using or the best type of toothpaste for healthy teeth. Plus, it might help them to get a few reminders from their dentist about how important at-home dental care really is.
Looking Out for Problems
Your teen might have cavities or other dental issues, and these issues should be caught and addressed as soon as possible for a healthy smile. Luckily, regular checkups with a family dentist can help your teeth get X-rays and examinations that will allow the family dentist to watch out for any issues.
Recommending an Orthodontist
If your teen has a crooked smile then their family dentist might recommend an orthodontist who can help them. If your teen doesn't know about whether or not they need braces, if they want to learn more about braces, or if they need advice about who to see for this care, a family dentist should be able to help.
Talking About the Dangers of Smoking
As a parent, you might have already talked to your teen about the dangers of smoking. However, you might not be sure of whether or not your teen is actually listening to you, so it probably won't hurt for your family dentist to discuss the oral-related dangers and risks that can go along with smoking. This could be one more effective way to discourage your teen from smoking.
Discussing Oral Protection During Sports
If your teen plays sports, you might worry that they will hurt themselves in the process. For example, you could be concerned about the possibility of them breaking their teeth or otherwise hurting their mouths. Luckily, your teen's family dentist can talk to them about mouthguards and other oral protection that they can make use of to protect their teeth when playing sports.
Contact a family dentist for more information.
Share23 July 2021
