Teen's Dentistry

Helping Your Teen Master Their Personal Care

Dental health during the teen years offers a unique set of challenges. For most parents, this doesn't come as a big surprise. A dizzying number of changes strike during these formative years, and you may experience a few frustrations along the way.

But teens listen more than we realize, and your encouragement can make a tremendous difference in their dental future. Oral home care habits tend to slide during adolescence, sometimes to the point of complete neglect. Increased independence may lead to eating and drinking habits that harm oral and overall health. Don't underestimate the impact of any encouragement you give to help your teen avoid the long-term effects of cavities and gum inflammation.

How We Support Your Teen

Preventive visits every six months provide us with an opportunity to coach your teen and reinforce the efforts you're making at home. Sometimes the rapport we establish in a professional, yet friendly, setting proves especially effective. Our doctors can share problems with them through visual aids while reinforcing any positive efforts they're making.

Tips for Protecting Your Teen's Dental Health at Home

Limit sodas and energy drinks. Sugary carbonated drinks are the number one cause of tooth decay in adolescents. Many 20-ounce bottles of soda contain 18 teaspoons of sugar in an extremely acidic liquid. The combination can be devastating for teeth.

Encourage brushing before bedtime. Night hours can be especially harmful as the mouth dries out and bacterial plaque flourishes.

Explain the dangers of sharing toothbrushes. Teens love to share everything, even toothbrushes. The bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities can easily transfer from one person to the next through this method.

Slip dental floss or a toothpick into their lunch or backpack. This can be a subtle reminder for your teen to quickly clean their teeth after snacks or lunch at school.

At Dentistry of South Jersey, we want to help your teen maintain optimal oral health. We're happy to answer any questions or provide additional educational materials to help your teen's smile last a lifetime.