Teeth Problems In Teenagers: What You Need To Know

Teenagers are in their most active formative years. Parents can help teenagers embrace a good oral routine from childhood through adulthood.  Additionally, parents should regularly take advantage of health insurance plans with dental coverage.

Teenagers may be challenging to handle. They’re also sensitive to anything that can damage their self-image and esteem. Parents should discuss with their budding adults the following teeth problem. It will help them prevent the occurrence of teeth problems and identify them early for intervention.

1.  Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are also known as permanent teeth. They erupt after the milk teeth fall off and signify that the teenager is maturing into adulthood. Your teenager is likely to have all the wisdom teeth by age 13. On the other hand, the third molars appear later between ages 17 to 21. The growing wisdom teeth can make the gum painful and uncomfortable.

Complications

Wisdom may appear misaligned or in an incorrect position. Misaligned teeth can negatively affect a teenager’s self-confidence and cause other problems. The teenager may complain of hurting teeth when moving the jaw or the back teeth aching.

A visit to the dentist can prevent the development of cysts, infections, gingivitis.  Misaligned teeth can also cause problems to other teeth nearby.

2. Crooked Alignment

 A crooked tooth looks unpleasant. And because teenagers are particular about their appearance, they can remain silent not to expose the crooked tooth.  Parents should be aware of changes in the teenager’s attitude about a misaligned tooth. A jagged tooth that never worried a fifth-grader may become an issue when they reach 16.

Intervention

The dentist may recommend braces to help align the teeth. A teenager may be uncomfortable about wearing braces. However, the doctor and parents should talk to the teenager about wearing braces because the benefit outweighs the anxiety. 

A teenager may wear braces for longer than one year. However, the results of having braces are immeasurable. Therefore, help your child create ways of overcoming the stress and anxiety of interacting with their peers.

3. Smoking

Young people experiment with many bad habits. Many teenagers know the general mantra that smoking is bad for their health but disregard the warning out of curiosity. Unfortunately, smoking can damage their teeth and trigger other smoking-related diseases. 

Complications

• Smoking compromises oral health. The chemicals in the cigarette cause bad breath that does not disappear with routine brushing.
• Additionally, it dries up the mouth because the compounds in cigarettes affect the natural moisturizer in the lips and mouth.
• Smoking discolors the teeth, causing them to lose their natural shine and color.
• It can dull a teenager’s taste buds, making it challenging to distinguish flavors.
• Smoking exposes a teenager to the risk of other gum diseases.
• Oral cancer
• Slow healing after oral surgery and tooth extraction

4. Oral Piercing

Teenagers struggle to fit among their peers. Consequently, they imitate celebrities and other idols in their space as a sign of identity or rebellion. Oral piercing involves making holes in different parts of the mouth.

Tongue studs, rings, and other ornaments can pose a danger to a teenager’s oral health. First, piercing the tongue can cause swelling. And because the mouth is often moist with saliva, the piercing heals slowly. Additionally, the abscess can make it challenging to chew, swallow or speak. Parents and guardians should talk teenagers out of body piercings.

Additionally, oral piercing can lead to other severe systemic infections, such as endocarditis and hepatitis.

5. Tooth decay

Tooth decay is one of the common oral problems among children, adults, and teenagers. Some habits that encourage tooth decay among teenagers include:

• Diet- Sugary food items encourage tooth decay. Teenagers are prone to candies, cakes, and sodas. Sugary food items develop into plaque, which wears out the enamel. Thin enamel makes the teeth sensitive and can result in cavities.

• Erupting molars- As molars erupt, the gum can be painful, hindering the teenager from brushing or flossing. Erupting molars can have flapping tissue over them, preventing the brush bristles from reaching the tooth’s surface. 

Secondly, the soft tissues over the erupting molars are sore. Teenagers who have not had a good oral routine may inevitably refuse to brush. Gradually, plaque collects, causing decay.

• Snacking-adolescents are in their most active age. Therefore, they often snack throughout the day. Every snack leaves the teeth dirty, increasing the risk of tooth decay. Food particles contribute to increased acidity in the mouth.  Acidity is the best medium for tooth decay and other gum diseases.

6. Dental Erosion

Dental erosion refers to the gradual loss of the teeth enamel because of frequent acid attacks. The topmost, hard part of the tooth is called enamel. Sugary foods produce acid. When the acid accumulates, enamel wears out, exposing the inner parts of the tooth making it sensitive. 

Teenagers should limit the consumption of acidic drinks and foods. Fizzy drinks can also cause dental erosion. Alternatively, young people should take water, milk, and tea because they contain essential minerals such as fluoride and calcium that promote healthy teeth.

Teenagers can consider these foods as an alternative for snacks:

• Nuts
• Plain yogurt
• Fresh soup
• Fruits
• Cheese
• Plain popcorns

7. Alcohol

Young people often experiment with alcohol. Like smoking, alcohol is harmful to their wellness and oral health. Teenagers who smoke often accompany the habit with alcohol. Alcohol increases the risk of tooth erosion and other oral diseases. Many alcoholic drinks have sugar and may also contain acids. Consequently, they can cause dental erosion and cavity when taken frequently and in large amounts.

How Young People Can Improve Their Oral Health

Teenagers should visit the dentist at least twice a month. The dentist can examine the teeth for any oral disease.  The dentist can address dental problems in the following ways:

Orthodontic braces to straighten teeth alignment and improve appearance.

1. Tooth extraction if the tooth is beyond correction
2. Root canal if the tooth is too damaged and painful
3. Whitening may be recommended for discolored teeth
4. Tooth jewelry for esthetic value or to be applied to conceal an ‘ugly’ defect.

Teenagers should embrace good oral habits and often visit the dentist. Additionally, they should abstain from smoking, drinking, body piercings, and other practices that compromise oral health.