Between school, sports, friends, shopping and texting, there isn’t much time left to think about their teeth. And let’s not mention their preferred diet of junk food and sweet drinks.
They also find it hard to listen to or understand your requests. Sound familiar?
Here are a few tips to help your child get through the teen years cavity-free:
- Appeal to their vanity. Explain to your child that bad oral hygiene can lead to stains, bad breath (halitosis) and missing teeth.
- Set a good example. If you take good care of your teeth, your teenager will see that good oral hygiene is important to you. Encourage brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily.
- If your teen has braces, make sure he or she brushes well around the braces, using floss to remove all food particles. Remember: Their risk of decay is higher while the braces are on. We recommend cleaning every 3 months during orthodontic treatment.
- Keep lots of fruits and vegetables in the house for snacking. (Limit the amount of junk food available and discourage ‘grazing’.)
- Encourage your teen to wear a mouthguard when playing sport.
- Consider having sealants applied to your child’s teeth. Sealants are made of plastic and are bonded to the teeth. Sealants give the highest level of protection for vulnerable back teeth and their deep grooves.