Oral Care for Teens: 101

Educate your adolescent to make healthy choices.

From Childhood to Adulthood

Adolescence is a special transitional stage between childhood and adulthood. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes adolescents as people between the ages of 10-19 years old. Many changes occur during these momentous years:

Puberty
Growth spurts
Biological changes
Physical changes
Mental growth and development in decision-making

Adolescents not only learn more about their identity as they navigate the road of life, they also discover their niche in society. Mental maturity means the ability to make decisions independently from parents. While it is important that adults and parents allow space for growth, it is essential to provide a healthy environment for an adolescent to thrive.

A Healthy Lifestyle

Living a healthy lifestyle is an important life lesson that should be taught at a young age. As the adolescent enters adulthood, they may continue to apply life lessons such as making health conscious decisions with food selection and practicing good oral hygiene. Consult with your adolescent's healthcare provider before creating a dietary plan. A general healthy meal plan includes:

Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated
Avoiding deep fried foods
Eating fruits or vegetables for snacks instead of sugary foods like candy, chips, fruit juice, and soda
Eating balanced meals- 3 times per day
Avoiding extreme dieting

Several mobile apps are available to download that can help track food intake and support a nutritional diet plan.

Oral Care for Adolescents

Mixed dentition is present in the early stages of adolescents where both baby teeth and adult teeth are present in the mouth.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) identifies adolescents as a group with:

High risk for cavities
Poor hygiene & poor nutritional habits
Increased awareness in physical aesthetics
Increased risk for trauma in the mouth and periodontal disease
Dental phobia

Tooth brushing can become less of a priority as an adolescent explores individual values and responsibilities. Therefore, adolescents should be educated on the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene in order to prevent cavities, gingivitis, and tooth loss.

The following are recommendations to achieve a healthy adolescent mouth:

Brush and Floss - brushing at least two minutes, twice a day, with a soft bristle toothbrush and flossing once a day removes plaque, food debris, and bad breath
Fluoride Treatments - fluoride strengthens the enamel and protects it against cavity causing bacteria - Fluoride can be applied at the dental office, used as a rinse, through fluoridated toothpaste, or intake through treated water
Regular Cleanings and Exams - regular cleaning visits help remove bacteria-filled tartar build-up that can't otherwise be removed with a toothbrush and helps reinforce protective dental enamel through professional fluoride treatment - Regular exams help identify and treat tooth decay early, before it becomes problematic and requires more extensive treatment (like root canals or extractions)
Sealants - sealants are a thin plastic coating that protects areas of teeth that are hard to clean (like the molars) from getting cavities

Communicate with your adolescent's primary dentist if you observe:

Sores in the mouth (lips, cheeks, or tongue)
Bad breath
Gingiva inflammation
Infection/bubble on the gum
Teeth grinding or Teeth erosion
Eating disorder or poor eating habit
TMD (Temporomandibular joint dysfunction)- jaw popping
Loose tooth
Sensitive teeth
Toothache or pain with chewing
Crooked or misaligned teeth (overbite/underbite)
Low self-esteem due to undesired dental aesthetic

The world is a challenging place to navigate as a young adolescent entering their second decade of life. While we can't wrap our "little ones" in bubble wrap to protect them from heartache and tough life lessons, we can certainly provide them the tools, resources, support, and knowledge to set them up for success.