Now that you are a teenager, you are old enough to do a lot of things you weren’t allowed to do or couldn’t do on your own at younger ages. Now is the time to also start taking responsibility over your own dental health. You probably consider yourself too old to have mom or dad actually brush your teeth, but hopefully not too old to listen to some gentle reminders about how important it is to take care of your teeth.
Brushing and flossing are two easy things you can do that will help preserve your teeth. We all want a beautiful smile. Right? This is the easiest way to be sure to have one. Flossing every day is so important. It gets rid of bacteria that sits between your teeth that brushing just can’t reach. Bacteria, not sugar, is what causes cavities. True. But the sugar is what helps to create the acid that causes bacteria, which then leads to tooth decay. So, be sure to brush twice a day for at least two minutes each time, in addition to flossing. Set a timer on your cell phone to help you keep track of the time. We also strongly advocate the use of a waterpik. You may have one laying around from your time in braces (or you may still be in braces). The waterpik is scientifically proven to be at least as if not more effective than flossing.
Speaking of braces: those of you that have finished with their orthodontic treatment should strongly consider your orthodontist’s recommendation to wear your retainers indefinitely. Teeth are essentially pegs suspended by gum fibers in a bony socket that will move throughout life. Our orthodontists preach lifelong retention as the most sure way to insure that your smile is amazing not only today, but long into the future.
The other easy thing you can do to keep your mouths healthy is to avoid sugary drinks, avoid smoking, and to remember to wear mouth protectors for sports. Even sports drinks are sugary drinks that cause tooth decay. Keep them to a minimum. Water is your best bet to stay hydrated and healthy.
We all know that smoking is harmful to our health in general. It can cause so many health problems and your oral health is no exception. Besides giving you bad breath, it can also cause tooth decay, tooth loss, and gum disease. It can even cause oral cancer and can be an incredibly expensive habit while potentially leading to very expensive health care needs in the future. Simply being a smoker will automatically put you into a high-risk category for health and life insurance too, which is another drain on your wallet! Stained teeth can be another side effect of smoking and slow healing after oral surgery. This includes any tobacco products not just cigarettes. If you have started smoking, ask your health professional for help to stop. We are happy to answer any of your questions here at our office as well.
Finally, be sure to where protective mouthguards when playing sports as dental injuries are the most frequently occurring injury from sports activities.
We care deeply for our patients at Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan and want our patients that start with us so young and grow up in our practice to lead health, happy, and productive lives as they graduate from our office as adults. We hope some of these friendly reminders are stored away in the back of your minds as you grow older.
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. The pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults, including being an Invisalign preferred provider. The ability to treat all special needs patients reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy. Valued hospital affiliations allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John’s Hospital Macomb when needed. Our specialists are also on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
