As children grow older, and especially when they reach their teens, they become more concerned with appearance — an unattractive smile can make them very self-conscious. We have special training so we are able to understand the special needs of teens and to understand the emotional importance of a healthy smile. As much as we promote preventive dentistry, sometimes our restorative services are the best option to rejuvenate a smile. Typical dental and dental-related issues surrounding teenagers include:

Diet & Dental Decay
A balanced diet is an important part of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. During the teen years, your child will grow rapidly and they need more vitamins and minerals than ever before. To satisfy their body’s demands, your teenager will eat more and more often. Unfortunately, teenagers often snack on foods that are high in sugar and simple carbohydrates and don’t take proper care of their teeth. The longer food is in the mouth the more the teeth are at risk to decay. It is important for teenagers to eat well and to take care of their teeth. Snacks should be limited and ideally, should be low in sugar and simple carbohydrates.

Dental decay is caused by sugar mixing with plaque found on teeth to form an acid. The acid that is formed attacks the teeth and causes decay. Your teenager can avoid dental decay by brushing and flossing regularly, by reducing their sugar intake (especially in snacks) and by using a fluoride toothpaste or by taking fluoride supplements as prescribed by a pediatrician or dentist.

To remove plaque and food particles, brushing with a soft-bristled brush (hard bristles can damage gums) is recommended after each meal and before going to bed at night. Toothbrushes should be replaced every three months or when the bristles become frayed. You should also replace your toothbrush after being sick.

Flossing is an important procedure as brushing alone only cleans 60% of the surface of your teeth — approximately 40% of your teeth are cleaned by flossing! Flossing not only removes food particles from between your teeth but by running the floss along teeth, it can remove plaque build-up which leads to gum disease, tooth decay and bad breath. It is recommended that you rinse after flossing to remove any loose food particles in your mouth.

Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth usually erupt around the late teens. Common difficulties with wisdom teeth include impacted teeth (when they don’t break through the gums) and lack of room, in which case we may suggest they are removed.

Crowded/Crooked Teeth & Bite Problems
Most facial growth in children is completed by the time they reach the age of 20. By the age of 12, most children will have had all but their wisdom teeth showing, which should erupt around the late teens. Regular check-ups allow us to observe your teenagers dental development and allow treatment of early problems before they become bigger ones. Common problems for growing children include malocclusion (bad bites such as cross-bites or overbites), and the development of crooked and/or crowded teeth.

Sometimes bad bites are hereditary but they can also be a result of sucking or tongue habits as a young child. We can identify and treat some forms of malocclusion and minimize or reduce the development of further problems including excessive wearing of teeth.

Crooked teeth are usually an outcome of crowding. Crowding occurs when there isn’t enough space in the mouth for teeth to fit properly, and can be caused by early or late loss of primary teeth, or improper eruption of teeth. Crooked and/or crowded teeth can prevent the proper functioning of your teeth and can be difficult to keep clean leading to a greater chance of tooth decay. To correct crooked teeth due to crowding, appliances can be used to create space, or sometimes teeth are taken out, while braces can be used to properly align the teeth.

Esthetic Dentistry
As much as we stress the importance of preventive dentistry, sometimes our esthetic services are required. Your child will become more concerned with their appearance (especially teenagers) as they grow older.  We offer a variety of restorative and esthetic services designed to return the smile to your child’s face including:

• Tooth-colored fillings not only look natural, but they’re stronger than mercury amalgams
• Bonding involves using natural-colored materials which are attached directly to the tooth surface to improve unsightly stains, spaces, cracks, or chips
• Professional Whitening quickly restores the natural brilliance to a smile

Dental Injuries
The teen years mark a time of increased athletic activity including many sports with physical contact. Common dental injuries with teenagers include fractured teeth or teeth that are displaced. Knowing what steps to take during a dental emergency can make a difference between losing and keeping a tooth. However, the first step is always to remain calm. Here are some suggestions for treating dental emergencies:

• Lost tooth – If the tooth has fallen to the ground, it needs to be cleaned. Hold it by the crown under running water, and replace it in the socket (the sooner this is done the better, as the tissues that attach teeth to bone dry out and die over time. If the tooth is replaced within 30 minutes is has a higher chance of reattaching itself). Once the tooth is back in the socket, the child should bite down normally to ensure proper positioning. Call us immediately after this is done.If the tooth cannot be replaced immediately, it should be placed in milk. If milk isn’t available, store it in the child’s mouth between their cheek and teeth. Your child should see us as soon as possible so we can complete treatment.
• Broken tooth – Clean the mouth by gently rinsing with warm water. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Call us immediately — a fractured tooth can be treated using esthetic techniques to look as good as new.

Anxiety
Although teenagers have visited dental offices many times, it isn’t uncommon for them to remain anxious about their dental visits. The staff and doctor at pediatric practices are trained to recognize and understand the special concerns of teenagers so they feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible.

Dental Lifestyles

The teen years can be a very stressful time and having a healthy self-esteem goes a long way in making these often difficult years easier. Self-esteem is related to many issues, including dental health. Taking proper care of your teeth can go a long way in making you feel better — after all, the first thing we notice about other people is their smile.

Good self-esteem is important because it helps you to feel good about yourself and feel proud of your accomplishments and abilities. Having good self-esteem is also important to making good choices about your mind and body. If you feel good about yourself, you’ll be less likely to follow the crowd if your friends are doing something you think isn’t healthy. If you have good self-esteem, you know that you’re smart enough to make your own decisions and able to defend yourself against peer pressure.

How does one improve their self-esteem? It starts with you. Take a look at yourself and feel proud about who you are. And surround yourself with people who feel the same about you – stay away from people who are negative influences. Take care of yourself. Give yourself compliments. Stay positive. And smile.

Smoking
By now, we all know that smoking is bad for your health. But smoking can also have an effect on your breath.

Tobacco use often leads to a common form of halitosis generally referred to as “smoker’s breath”. Smoking dries the membranes of the mouth and the lack of moisturizing saliva enhances the growth of bacteria leading to bad breath. In fact, studies have shown that smokers have a 10 times greater incidence of periodontal disease than non-smokers. Signs of periodontal disease can include:

• Bleeding gums
• Pus between gums and teeth
• Sensitivity when flossing
• Swelling or redness of gums
• Persistent bad breath
• Changes in the way your teeth fit together
• Receding Gums
• Loose teeth

Don’t let your health (and your breath) go up in smoke.

Bad breath and proper dental hygiene

Bad Breath
When an individual has bad breath, bacteria are often present in substantial numbers. In addition to bad breath, those byproducts that the bacteria produce and leave in the saliva, on the tongue and between the teeth can contribute to a very unpleasant taste. Bad breath can be caused by many factors including the food we eat, poor or irregular eating habits such as skipping meals, as well as the consumption of alcohol, and the use of tobacco.

Individuals who suffer from chronic bad breath react with great embarrassment and discomfort knowing that their mouth odor is unpleasant to those around them. It often causes anxiety and has a negative impact on self-esteem. It is necessary to have chronic bad breath assessed and treated for greater all-around health.