Teenagers have busy schedules because of schoolwork, social events, and sports. Sometimes, they are too busy to brush their teeth or floss. They tend to take oral hygiene on the back burner. Moreover, most of them are inclined to junk food, fast food, and sugary substances. Many teenagers struggle with tooth decay and cavities since they do not take good care of their teeth and gums. Teaching teens the ways to improve their oral hygiene is not an easy task. As parents, it is your responsibility to ensure your kids live a healthy and clean life. You should encourage them to take care of their overall health and oral health.
How Parents Can Teach Teenagers About Proper Oral Hygiene
Teenagers are hardly neat and tidy, making monitoring their oral hygiene habits challenging. Some teens take a lot of interest in their appearance, making it easier to teach them about oral hygiene. For those who do not care about their appearance, it becomes challenging for parents to enlighten them on the importance of dental hygiene. Poor oral hygiene habits result in not only bad breath but also gum diseases and cavities. Parents need to make sure their teens understand the impact of lack of proper dental hygiene. They should help them learn the consequences of poor oral hygiene, including gum illnesses, bad breath, cavities, among others. As a parent, you understand your teenager’s character to help you know how to approach them. Parents have the responsibility to ensure their teens practice dental hygiene. The best way to achieve this goal is by brushing and flossing often. You need to ensure that they observe the necessary oral hygiene measures every day to keep them healthy and strong.
Some Tips for Teenagers to Have Proper Oral Hygiene
Working with teens on proper oral hygiene requires you to develop trendy and unique solutions for them. These tips will ensure your teens practice oral hygiene effortlessly:
• Use teen-based apps: It is advisable to understand that teens are overwhelmed by trendy behaviors. Everything should be appealing and tailored to match their tastes. To coax your teen into a daily routine, you must develop youth-geared dental products to meet their tastes and preferences. For instance, if you encourage them to use dental care app or follow dental social media accounts, they will learn many things about oral hygiene.
• Limit soda and candy: Most teens love junk food, soda, candy, and other unhealthy foods. The high sugar level of these substances promotes cavities and bacteria. As a parent, you should make sure you have the right snacks like bottled water and sugar-free treats in your fridge, which will discourage them from eating unhealthy foods.
• Use timers: Keeping up with your teen on proper oral hygiene is a full-time commitment. To achieve positive outcomes, you must be creative in your approach. Allow them to use their smartphones or a favourite three-minute song as a timer. It makes them brush for longer to achieve the desired results.
• Appeal to their image: Encourage your teens to brush and floss regularly to get the attractive smile they desire. Remind them that failure to adhere to dental care measures will lead to yellow stains and bad breath, which may result in a lack of self-esteem.
The Importance of Teenagers Maintaining Proper Oral Hygiene
Proper oral hygiene applies to everyone. It is imperative to encourage your teenagers to visit us at the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa to learn crucial oral hygiene aspects. Proper oral hygiene enhances strong teeth, a pleasant breath, and a healthy smile, which will boost your teenagers’ health and confidence.
Consequences for Teenagers When Not Maintaining Proper Oral Hygiene
When teenagers fail to follow proper dental hygiene, their overall body health may deteriorate. Moreover, their teeth may become stained, cracked, and at risk of disease, which may ruin their smile and social interactions.
As a parent, it is imperative to ensure that your teens observe the right oral hygiene measures to live a healthy life. You should help them learn the benefits of maintaining proper oral hygiene and make sure to set a good example. Moreover, it is advisable to encourage them to visit us at the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa regularly for checkups. Contact us today to schedule your teen an appointment to check up on their oral health.
