3 Tips for Teenage Brushers



   1. Make sure the brush is comfortable for their hands and mouth
            a. Your teenager’s body is changing at a rapid pace. In order to ensure they are able to keep up with the hygiene demands of being a teenager, it is important to make sure they have a toothbrush that fits in their mouth correctly. You do not want to fight them brushing their teeth everyday, but if the toothbrush is not comfortable to them or is too big or too small it can create a dramatic situation unnecessarily exaggerated by other hormone changes going on with them.
 
   2. Dr. Fuller suggests,"that your teenager see the dentist regularly and more frequently if they are in orthodontic treatment or wear an appliance."
            a. Everyone should visit the dentist at least every six months for a cleaning to ensure there are no problems with anything. It may be recommended for your teen to have x-rays taken at the six-month appointment in order to ensure cavities are not forming between the teeth and that the gums are healthy. If your child has any orthodontic appliances or is in treatment, it is important to keep up on these appointments, again, to ensure they are brushing properly with their appliance. 

   3.Being social is so important at this age; make sure discussion about bad breath and how to control it is a part of your teen's education.
            a. It can be embarrassing for a teen to go through all of the hormonal changes that go along with being a teenager, the last thing they want is to be embarrassed because they have bad breath. Ensure your teenager understands what causes bad breath and ways to prevent it. It is important that they have toothpaste and mouthwash that tastes good to them in order to encourage proper brushing and dental habits," says pediatric dentist Dr. Cameron Fuller.

Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 18, 2015 at 1:26 PM

    I am so glad that my children realize that bad breath is something you don't want to have. I am actually really impressed with my children altogether. The dentists say that they do a really good job and brushing their teeth. It makes things a lot easier when you don't have to pay for those cavities. http://www.paramountdentistry.ca/services.html

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  2. UnknownFebruary 20, 2015 at 1:41 PM

    Bad breath is definitely what convinced my teenager to start brushing more regularly. As soon as he realized that girls preferred a minty-fresh smile, he was a stickler about hygiene. In that regard, his teenage years were nice for me! http://www.eastmandentalinc.com

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  3. James LisbonFebruary 20, 2015 at 7:38 PM

    I liked the first tip that mentions the level of comfort of the brush in the hand and the mouth. Awhile back, I read in a magazine that if a brush is not comfortable in the mouth, it may cause problems with the gums and teeth. Children and teenagers may also have less developed teeth that might get damaged easily. It is probably something that needs to be researched in order to find what works right for a teenager or a child. http://www.drmarkstapleton.com

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  4. Ahmad AliDecember 28, 2016 at 1:51 AM

    This is some great information, and I appreciate your point that saliva is important for dental health. I’ve always kind of had a dry mouth, but I’ve noticed that it’s been even worse recently. Knowing that that could cause dental problems, I’ll definitely look into visiting a dentist to see what solutions there are. Thanks for the great post!
    Teeth Cleaning

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