While many of the dental care concerns people face are common regardless of their age, there are some dental issues that are of more concern for adolescents and teens. Some of these problems not only causes a parent concern for their child's dental health, but also causes the child to become concerned because of social issues that poor dental hygiene can pose.
Tooth Decay
Of course, one of the primary dental concerns that parents have for their adolescents and teens is tooth decay and gum disease. If proper dental hygiene was not taught to children early on, it may be posing a problem now in adult teeth that are coming in. Cavities, which come from tooth decay, are a common issue among teens that fail to properly brush their teeth. Gum disease is also common, and comes from improper brushing and a lack of flossing.
Halitosis
Improper hygiene can also lead to extreme cases of halitosis which can pose many social issues for teens. Halitosis, or bad breath, is a sign that there is a buildup of harmful bacteria. This bacteria will accumulate if proper dental hygiene including brushing, flossing and tongue scraping is not performed regularly. While there is no real risk to having bad breath, the causes of the bad breath can lead to serious dental disease if not taken care of properly.
Misaligned Teeth
Finally, another very common dental concern for adolescents and teens is crooked teeth. As the adult teeth begin to grow in, it may become very apparent that the teeth are not growing in properly straight. This can not only cause a lack of self-confidence in teens and adolescents, but if left untreated, can create bite problems and other dental concerns. In order to prevent this, you need to make sure that you have your child's teeth checked regularly, and consult with an orthodontist if you have any concerns.
Contact our
Naperville cosmetic dentist, Dr. Machnowski, for further information about helping to maintain your teenager's good oral health.