Keeping Teenage Teeth Healthy In Bedford

The teen years can be challenging, especially for teeth and gums.

As any parent knows, having a teenager is not always fun. As their find their way and place in the world, they inevitably challenge authority figures, and that, of course, includes mum and dad!

Although our children gain more independence as they get older, parental influence  does still continue, and it is important that we use some of this influence to make sure that they look after their oral health.

Whilst we probably can’t stand and watch a 14 year old whilst they clean their teeth, there are ways that we can still at least help them to enter their adult life with healthy teeth.

Food

Although we can’t monitor everything that our children eat outside the home, we can at least make sure that they have a healthy diet within the home. Keeping sugary sweets and snacks out of the way of eager hands, and reserving them for special occasions only, is a good start. The same applies with sugary drinks which are increasingly being blamed for a rise in tooth decay.

Even if we don’t recognise it sometimes, our teenagers do still watch what their parents do and say, so try to be a good example to them when it comes to what they eat and drink.

Take control

Although harder in their late teens, we do still tend to have the final say over what our teenagers do. Whilst we can try to discuss, logically, why they should brush their teeth or see the dentist, sometimes a stricter approach is necessary. How you achieve this will depend on your own circumstances and how you relate to your children, but holding back pocket money, or other restrictions, may be enough for them to agree to see their local Bedford dentist. They may complain, but they will thank you for it later in life!

Positive ideas

Not all improvements to oral health need necessarily be seen as onerous and there are some positive suggestions that a teenager may happily agree to. One of the most useful of these is to encourage them to chew sugar free chewing gum. Most teenagers will be happy to do this; they may even think it ‘cool’ to do so. By chewing gum, a lot of tiny food particles and gum harming bacteria that collect between the teeth will be removed. Do encourage them not to swallow it though – and to dispose of it sensibly! Of course this is not a substitute for diligent brushing and flossing.

Our role

Even if they do so very begrudgingly, it is important for teenagers to see a dentist at The Dental Centre Bedford on a regular basis. The teenage years can be very harmful for both teeth and gums and it is important that they are monitored to make sure that they remain in good condition.  Hopefully, parents recognise this and use whatever method they feel necessary to ensure that this happens.

If you have a teenager, or a child of any age who is not currently seeing a dentist, or simply wish to register with a Bedford dentist, please call us on 01234 819868 and speak with one of our team.