From prom invitations to SAT prep, your teenager will deal with plenty of new experiences as they progress through high school. Therefore, it’s easy to neglect dental care. If you want to help your teen avoid dental complications, get to know some of the most common issues among their age group below.

3 Common Dental Care Issues Among Teenagers

1. Wisdom Teeth 

While your child may have had their molars come in around age 13, they’ll encounter another major growth in their late teens: wisdom teeth. In most cases, these large molars must be removed.

Sometimes, this is simply a precaution to prevent crowding, misalignment, and subsequent decay caused by trapped food. However, in other cases, impacted wisdom teeth, which grow sideways or diagonally, get trapped under the gums and cause infections. In this case, they must be extracted by an oral surgeon, usually between the ages of 17 and 21.

2. Smoking & Vaping

In many areas of the country, smoking—and its more modern counterpart, vaping—starts to become a trendy pastime among high schoolers. Unfortunately, even if your teenager only participates on occasion, this activity is just as detrimental to the mouth as it is to the lungs.

Smoking and vaping can lead to dry mouth, which reduces the saliva flushing bacteria out of the mouth and increases the risk of cavities and gum disease. These habits can also discolor your child’s smile and weaken their taste buds.

3. Orthodontics

If your child had braces in elementary school or early middle school and they haven’t worn a retainer afterward, their mouth may have developed since the orthodontic treatment. As a result, their smile may have shifted, and they might need orthodontia once again.

Luckily, there are alternatives to the common metal brackets and wires they may have had in the past. Today’s teenagers can use clear aligners to straighten their teeth without compromising their smile.

If your teen is struggling with any of these dental care issues, turn to the team at Pedodontic Associates. With their three locations across Oahu & Maui, you can find a convenient appointment close to home. From teething to wisdom teeth extraction, their five dentists will take care of your child’s smile at every stage. To learn more about their services, visit the website. Call (808) 735-1733 to make an appointment in Honolulu, (808) 487-7933 to schedule a visit in Aiea, and (808) 877-0066 for Kahului.