As our bodies grow and change, our health needs evolve in kind. This includes dental care. Teenagers in particular are at a unique point when it comes to their oral health, with wisdom teeth, orthodontic care, and more coming into play. Below are just a few dentist’s tips to ensure the best oral care for your teenager.  

How to Encourage Healthy Teenage Teeth

1. Promote a Healthy Diet

Teens are notorious for being big eaters, but make sure your child is getting the right balance of nutrients among all those meals and snacks. Too much sugar—and especially soda—can damage dental enamel, so remind your teen to limit their intake of sugary snacks. Meanwhile, replenish minerals with leafy green vegetables, almonds, beans, fish, and foods with added calcium like some brands of orange juice.

2. Maintain Braces Properly

In many cases, the teenage years are the perfect time to get braces and straighten out any crookedness or misalignment in their teeth and jaws. Braces require additional maintenance, however, so remind your teen to brush after every meal and use dentist-provided flossing tools to remove food in stubborn areas. 

3. Watch for Wisdom Teeth

Most people’s third molars emerge in their late teens, and they may need to be removed to prevent mouth crowding. These teeth emerge slowly, so your teen might not even notice an issue until they visit the dentist. Your dentist will let you know whether your teen needs their wisdom teeth out and prepare them by sharing signs of any issues, like redness, swelling, and jaw pain.

If it’s time for a visit to the dentist, contact Dentistry at Houston Lake in Perry, GA. Dr. Kinsley and Dr. Guley offer a full range of dental procedures in Houston County, from simple cleaning to cosmetic dentistry and surgical interventions. They strive to make the experience personalized, relaxing, and fun, and offer dental sedation for those who need it. To schedule a visit, call (478) 987-1441 or reach out online.