5 Important Dental Habits for Parents and Teens

Practicing proper oral health habits such as brushing your teeth twice a day can keep your smile from being plagued by plaque. Both good and bad oral health habits begin at a young age. As a parent, teaching your teen about proper dental care can save them years of costly trips to the local dentist in the future. Did you know, one out of every four adults fail to brush their teeth twice a day, including a third of men? For adults that have already lost their sparking smile, remedies are available to get it back. Rather than wait for a dental emergency, find the best dentist in your area and bring your teenagers along with you! While you’re at it, check out these five important dental habits for you and your teen.

Brush Daily

Brushing your teeth twice daily helps to prevent tooth decay by removing the transparent layer of bacteria that coats your teeth. Tooth decay leads to the creation of holes in your teeth called cavities. Once a dental cavity is formed, it can lead to the loss of a tooth. Make sure you purchase ADA approved toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride is the active ingredient in toothpaste that helps to prevent cavities. Furthermore, brushing your teeth helps to prevent against bad breath. If your teenager is worried about asking their dream date to prom, remind them about the importance of proper dental hygiene.

Exercising proper brushing technique is essential for removing harmful plaque. Remember to place your brush at a 45-degree angle to your gums and utilize short strokes that tip the bristles into the pits of your teeth. Always, gently brush the inside and outside surfaces of your teeth. Brushing too hard can cause your gums to recede and destroy tooth enamel. Each time, brush for two to three minutes. Also, be sure to brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth.

Fix crooked smiles

Crooked teeth are difficult to brush and floss, increasing the odds of plaque and bacteria buildup. Misaligned teeth can cause jaw problems like TMJ. Furthermore, crooked teeth can lead to feeling self-conscious and hiding your smile in social settings. One way to improve your teen’s confidence is to improve their smile.

Thanks to improvements in cosmetic dentistry, clear aligners called Invisalign are now available to help gradually solve crooked smiles. Adults and teens love Invisalign because it fixes crooked teeth without welcoming the unwanted attention of wearing metal braces. Also, they can be removed when you drink, eat, brush, and floss your teeth.

Get a Regular Dental Checkup

Even for the most diligent of brushers, visiting a local dentist twice a year for a dental checkup is important. One important reason is that you may be regularly missing small areas of your mouth when you brush. This can lead to plaque forming. If it is not handled quickly it will turn to tartar. Tartar can lead to painful and costly oral damage such as gum disease. When you visit for a dental checkup, your teeth will be cleaned of all plaque and tartar. Moreover, when you visit the dentist you will receive an x-ray examination to address any underlying oral health issues.

Research reviews of dentists in your area to narrow down the best dentist for you and your teen. The best dentist will educate your family on oral health and actively listen to your questions and concerns.

Avoid Sugary Snacks

Are you the one in your family that does all the grocery shopping? If so, avoid purchasing sugary snacks to protect you and your family against tooth decay. Foods that contain sugar can also lead to gum disease. Once gum disease begins, it can worsen if untreated. Although you can’t control everything your family eats, you can help by limiting the amount of high sugar foods in your pantry. The top dentists will also remind your child to stay away from those sugary snacks as well.

Address Existing Dental Issues Immediately

Although you may think it’s okay to wait until your next checkup to get it addressed, procrastination may make your issue cost more time and money. For instance, a loose tooth can be a sign of gingivitis. Without treatment, the infection in your gums could spread and cause further deterioration of your jaw.

If your child is complaining about toothaches, schedule an appointment for them with your dentist before it becomes a dental emergency.

Final Thoughts

Have a family full of happy healthy smiles by making these dental improvements and regularly visiting the best dentist in your area.