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5 Major Dental Concerns for Teens

5 Major Dental Concerns for Teens
Posted on 06/07/2021
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Adolescence is a period of exploration and adventure. During this stage, your teen will be going through one of the most challenging and important stages of their life. Kids learn how to deal with their emotions and try out new things during adolescence. However, these adolescent years can lead to poor dental hygiene and consequently dental problems.

Eating too many snacks or drinking too many sugary drinks could lead to tons of dental issues. Moreover, teenagers are involved in various sports. This places them at risk of tooth loss due to a sport's injury. Learning about common dental issues in teens will prepare you and your kid for any eventuality. Here is your list of comprehensive to major dental concerns among teenagers.

1. Bad Breath

Bad breath is a common dental issue among teens. Popularly known as halitosis, bad breath can be embarrassing for your teen, especially in social settings. There are various causes of bad breath including dry mouth, food, other dental diseases, medical conditions, and smoking.

In some cases, you can help your teen deal with bad breath by using a piece of gum or encouraging them to brush often. However, some bad breath cases are difficult to handle and require the help of a certified dentist. A certified and licensed dentist will identify the cause of your teen's bad breath and recommend the right treatment plan.

2. Sugar and Tooth Decay

Too much sugar intake among teenagers is the leading cause of tooth decay. When you let your teens eat too much sugar, plaque will start to form on the tooth. Plaque contains germs that will start feeding on the sugars from the drinks and food your teens are consuming. The acid produced by plaque can damage the tooth and cause tooth decay.

Tooth decay is painful and can be embarrassing for your teenagers. Extreme cases can even slow down development when tooth decay affects their jaw and speech. Failure to address these issues quickly can lead to severe pain and discomfort. Take your teen to a dentist immediately if you notice swollen gums and brown spots on their teeth.

3. Orthodontic Problems

Teens are involved in various sports and dangerous activities. This exposes them to the risk of dental injuries due to accidents.  Injuries to the mouth can lead to malocclusion, which occurs due to teeth spacing and jaw alignment problems. Teenagers are likely to develop orthodontic problems due to thumb sucking. Your teen will find it hard to bite and chew after developing malocclusion. Other causes of malocclusion include diastema, overbite, underbite, and crowded teeth.

4. Cosmetic Dental Issues

Teenagers are often preoccupied with their personal appearance. They start paying more attention to how they look and what others think about them. With this in mind, it’s not surprising to see your teen worrying about how their teeth look.

Chances are that your teenager will ask for treatment for crooked teeth, which are caused by jaw misalignment, small mouths, and diastema. Excessive thumb sucking and loss of teeth can also cause cosmetic dental issues. Dentists use dental bonding or veneers to close gaps in teeth.

5. Discolored Teeth

Discolored and yellow teeth are also common among teens. As a parent, the best you can do is to encourage your teen to follow good dental hygiene practices. For some extra help, you can seek professional teeth whitening solutions for your teen if they have discolored teeth.

Key Takeaway

If you are looking for the best pediatric dentistry near you, be sure to check Treasured Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. Our board-certified pediatric dentists specialize in children and adolescent dentistry, so you will get the treatment you need.

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