If you are a teenager or the parent of a teenager, today’s Ritchie Dental Group post is for you. Today’s post discusses dental issues of special concern to adolescents. Dental risks for Marble Falls teens include both developmental and lifestyle-related factors.
At Ritchie Dental Group, we see cavities and gum disease far too often in teens. Possible causes and complicating conditions include insufficient dental hygiene, unhealthy diet, malocclusion, smoking, hormonal changes, tooth grinding, mouth breathing, eating disorders, and poor oral health in Brady.
As children become more independent, some get lax about brushing and flossing. Additionally, some teens’ diets become worse when they have more freedom to choose what to eat. Few parents let their four-year-old drink an energy drink, but they are consumed frequently by Marble Falls adolescents – presumably without their parents’ knowledge.
Malocclusion can make proper brushing and flossing difficult, leaving even vigilant brushers with decay from food particles that are almost impossible to remove. Malocclusion can also trigger TMD, also known as Temporomandibular Disorder. If you suspect that your teen’s bite is not aligned properly, or if your teen sees a clicking sound in the jaw joint, call Ritchie Dental Group at 830-693-8833 to schedule an exam.
Marble Falls parents of adolescents are well aware that puberty has a significant impact on physical and emotional health. Puberty causes all sorts of changes in the body, and the mouth is no exception. Increased hormone levels can cause the body to react to a very small amount of plaque, triggering inflammation of gum tissue and increased risk of the more advanced form of gum disease known as periodontitis. Your dentist can guide you if more frequent professional cleanings are needed to preserve oral health in Brady.
One of the common teen dental issues that impacts most young men and women is wisdom teeth. It’s best to start monitoring your teen’s wisdom teeth early so they can be treated before they result in problems with the jaw or surrounding teeth. And you certainly don’t want to send your high-school grad to an out-of-state college without addressing his or her third molars. If problems appear, your child won’t be near their regular dentist, will probably miss class, and will either need to come home or use an out-of-network dentist or oral surgeon. If you don’t have a family dentist, Ritchie of Ritchie Dental Group can examine your teen and evaluate X-rays to counsel you on the best course of action for his or her wisdom teeth.
If you are looking for a professional dentist in the Marble Falls area, we invite you to schedule an appointment at Ritchie Dental Group by calling 830-693-8833. We have been providing first-rate dental care to Marble Falls families since 2000. For more specifics about teen oral health in Brady, call today.
Contact Ritchie Dental Group:
830-693-8833
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1000 Marble Heights Dr, Marble Falls TX
Marble Falls, Texas
78654
