Helping Your Teen Stay Motivated to Practice Good Oral Hygiene

As kids get older, they often get quite a bit busier. Between extracurricular activities, homework, and needing to socialize with friends and peers, you may notice that you have less control of your teen’s schedule. Teenagers have a lot on their plates and this can sometimes result in the neglect of their dental health.

Keeping Your Teen Motivated to Practice Good Oral Hygiene

While you may not be able to help your teen brush and floss anymore, there are a few things you can do to help encourage him or her to continue taking good care of their oral health. These can include:

• Keep supplies on hand – Check your teen’s bathroom to make sure he or she has enough floss, toothpaste, or mouthwash. They may be too busy to let you know that they’ve run out of dental products, so make sure they’re on hand.
• Avoid oral piercings – If you can, discourage your teen from receiving an oral piercing. Lip and tongue piercings can lead to chipped teeth and even infections in the mouth, which can become quite serious.
• Make an orthodontic consultation – While you can receive dental braces during all phases of life, the teenage years are the most common time for braces. This is because all of the adult teeth have emerged, but the mouth is still malleable and growing enough to allow braces to be successful.
• Stay on top of exams – Continue to make appointments for your teen to receive dental cleanings and exams every six months. It’s important to catch any potential dental problems early on before they become too severe.
• Make sure your teen has a mouth guard – If your teen is involved in sports, it’s very important that he or she has a customized mouth guard. This device will help protect your teen’s teeth and his or her oral tissues in case of a hit to the mouth. Additionally, a mouth guard can help decrease the likelihood of concussion.

For more tips on keeping your teenager’s teeth healthy, or if you need to set an appointment for your child’s regular dental cleaning and exam, please contact Little Rockies Pediatric Dentistry. Our child’s dentist is located in Parker, Colorado.