Being a teenager is hard enough, with fluctuating hormones, acne, and the general angst that comes with age. However, while many things can happen in a teen’s life, oral health is an aspect that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Seeing a dentist in Newbury Park is essential when you want your teen to have a life unhindered by worries of tooth decay, gum disease, and periodontitis. Here are five benefits of dental health for a teen:
For Optimal Dental Growth
Between the age of six and 20, adult teeth can begin replacing baby teeth. While there is no concrete age for the adult teeth to start coming in, the process can be hindered by bad dental health. If you’re not seeing a dentist regularly, your teeth might grow crooked without braces or any other alignment process.
Gum disease can also occur when baby teeth are gone, adult teeth start coming in, and oral hygiene isn’t maintained.
To Prevent Cavities
Good dental routines that include flossing and brushing regularly can play a huge role in preventing cavities. Cavities can lead to permanent damage and, in extreme cases, require dental crowns or implants to fix them.
An untreated cavity will cause a lot of pain and can lead to severe infections that can prevent a teen from being their healthiest self. To ensure that cavities don’t arise in the first place, avoiding excessive sweets, alcohol, and any smoking substance is crucial.
Not cleaning teeth well enough can also lead to a lot of cavities, and using fluoride toothpaste can help in many ways. If possible, try getting an electronic toothbrush for your teen that can get into all the grooves and ridges for better cleaning.
To Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene can prevent bad breath, dry mouth, periodontitis, and many other oral health conditions that can stay with you for a lifetime. While it’s okay to opt for the occasional cosmetic teeth whitening procedure, even with good dental health, your teen may have to go through a lot more if they’re not paying attention to their oral hygiene.
Electric toothbrushes are ideal to maintain a good oral routine, but replacing the toothbrush head every few months is crucial to get rid of the built-up bacteria. Visiting a dentist and getting their input on how your teen can be better about their dental health is also ideal.
Stop Gum Disease and Tooth Decay
A combination of an unhealthy lifestyle and bad dental habits can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. While your teen won’t feel it immediately, having these oral health conditions can impact their entire life. From veneers to dentures, they will have to live with the consequences of not visiting the dentist if good dental health isn’t maintained.
To Live a Healthy Life
Bad oral health can lead to various conditions, such as infections, throat cancer, dementia, and even diabetes. Ensuring your teen is aware of the consequences of bad dental health is vital to keeping them on track.
Looking for a Capable and Reliable Dentist? We’re Here to Help
According to the CDC, 13.2% of children between the ages of 5-19 live with untreated caries, and good dental health can prevent that. At Newbury Dental, we aim to ensure that your teen always has a healthy smile. When you’re looking for a trusted dentist to look after your teen’s oral health, we can help!