If you are a teenager or the parent of a teenager, today’s Town and Country Cosmetic Dentistry and Implant Center post is for you. Today’s post discusses dental issues of special concern to adolescents.
At Town and Country Cosmetic Dentistry and Implant Center, we see cavities and gum disease far too often in teens. As children become more independent, some get lax about brushing and flossing. Furthermore, some teens’ diets become worse when they have more freedom to choose what to eat. Few parents let their four-year-old drink an energy drink, but they are consumed frequently by teenagers – presumably without their parents’ knowledge.
Malocclusion can make proper brushing and flossing difficult, leaving even vigilant brushers with decay from food particles that are almost impossible to remove. Malocclusion can also trigger TMD (Temporomandibular disorder). If you suspect that your teen’s bite is not aligned properly, or if your teen experiences a clicking sound in the jaw joint, call Town and Country Cosmetic Dentistry and Implant Center at 314-576-0088 to schedule an exam.
In spite of numerous Missouri public service campaigns aimed at preventing teen smoking, many adolescents take up the dangerous habit even before they graduate from high school. Smoking wrecks teeth as surely as it wrecks lungs.
Chesterfield parents of youth are well aware that puberty has a significant impact on physical and emotional health. Puberty causes all sorts of changes in the body, and the mouth is no exception. Increased hormone levels (especially in females) can cause the body to react to a very small amount of plaque, triggering inflammation of gum tissue and increased risk of the more advanced form of gum disease known as periodontitis. Your dentist can guide you if more frequent professional cleanings are necessary to preserve gum health.
If you visit any soccer field or basketball court, you will see that many young athletes fail to protect their teeth. If your adolescent participates in a contact sport, talk to us about custom athletic mouthguards.
One of the teen dental issues that impacts most young people is wisdom teeth. It’s best to start monitoring your teen’s wisdom teeth early so they can be treated before they result in troubles with the jaw or surrounding teeth. And you certainly don’t want to send your high-school grad to an out-of-state college without addressing his or her third molars. If you don’t have a family dentist, Martin Buchheit of Town and Country Cosmetic Dentistry and Implant Center can examine your teen and evaluate X-rays to advise you on the best course of action for his or her wisdom teeth.
For more specifics about teen dental health, porcelain veneers, Invisalign, or any of our other dental care services call today.
Contact Town and Country Cosmetic Dentistry and Implant Center:
314-576-0088
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
14377 Woodlake Dr Ste 205
Chesterfield, Missouri
63017
