Teens Dental Health

Hopefully, since childhood, the adolescent will have been taught good habits of dental hygiene, and will have carried them out consistently, but bad habits have a way of creeping in, and maybe the previously good dental routines of regular brushing and flossing have been neglected.

The teen should make sure that he/she continues the fight against tooth decay, and watch out for the following plaque creating situations which can easily be avoided by him/herself.

What is Plaque?

Plaque is a sticky mixture of bacteria and other substances. The bacteria produce an adhesive chemical known as mucopolysaccharide, and they live in this biofilm on the teeth.

Tags: Adolescent, Bad Habits, Dental Hygiene, Tooth Decay

Among many other teenage habits and activities, there is always time reserved for a little petting and kissing etc. with the teens girlfriend or boyfriend, to their mutual pleasure.

But can kissing be harmful to the oral health of either of them?

It has been said that ‘ kissing is natures cleansing process’ and helps in washing out the mouths by saliva exchange. But kissing can also be involved in germ transfer. It can transmit bacteria and viruses through the mouth, and these can be transferred from person to person.

Some Viral Diseases Transmitted by Kissing

n  Respiratory tract infections, or colds are easily transferred, from secretions in the mouth or throat of the other person.

Tags: Germ Transfer, Kissing, Oral Health, Saliva, Teenage

Some teenagers and young adults may suffer from an oral disease known as Pyorrhea. It is an advanced periodontal disease which affects the jaw bones, causing inflammation and infection.

The disease is relatively painless so the teen may be unaware of its onset and it can go undetected, until it is too late. If untreated, pyorrhea can lead to jaw bone erosion, and the tooth support is affected causing tooth loss.

If the person has any indication of oral discomfort then a dentist should be consulted.

Early Signs of Pyorrhea.

n  Symptoms can be similar to gingivitis.

n  A change in the appearance of the gums can occur, which is clearly visible.

Tags: Oral Disease, Periodontal, Pyorrhea, Teenager

The Wisdom Teeth are the large Molars situated at the back of the mouth, and are primarily used for chewing food.

Sometimes, in the teenager, a wisdom tooth may need to be extracted to overcome an existing problem, or to prevent future problems.

Why Extract a Wisdom Tooth?

n  Sometimes, the teens jaw is insufficiently developed, and it is too small to accept the full growth of the molar, which becomes impacted and unable to grow through the gum surface.

n  The wisdom tooth may grow only partially through the gum, creating a flap of gum under which residues of food particles are trapped leading to red and swollen gums and likely gum infection.

Tags: Gum Flap, Jaw, Molar, Teenager, Wisdom Teeth

Sometimes, if a teenager at last decides that he should visit a dentist and have a dental check up, he/she may become alarmed when the dentist tells the teen that there are some teeth  which are showing signs of decay, and some teeth cavities are present.

However, the teens alarm reduces when the dentist further tells her/him that the teeth do not need extracting, but can be repaired using a dental cavity filling.

Dental Filling Procedure.

The actual filling procedure is relatively simple – -

n  First the dentist will remove all of the decayed tooth material.

n  The whole of the affected area will then be cleaned out.

Tags: Cavity Filling, Filling Procedure, Teenager, Teeth Cavities

Teenagers love to eat sugary snacks, and drink soda or other carbonated soft drinks. They little realize, or pay any attention to the fact that these starchy, sugary foods encourage oral bacterial growth and tooth decay by increasing mouth acidity.

As a result of such oral bacteria, the teen can often suffer from bad breath, and his/her peer group friends tend to avoid the teenager.

By paying more attention to eating habits, which include foods which naturally fight oral bacteria, remove teeth plaque, and freshen the breath, the teen can soon regain a new ‘ring of confidence’ and be comfortable with his friends. Such healthy foods can include:

Some Common Healthy Foods for Healthy Teeth.

Tags: Snacks, Soft Drinks, Starch, Sugar, Teenagers

The periodontal disease of Pyorrhea can affect all age groups, but if it affects a teenager it can be particularly worrisome, since it can cause teeth loss, with the result that the teen would be encumbered with dentures from an early age.

The prime causes of the disease are bacterial activity affecting the gums surrounding the teeth, and lead to – -

n  Teeth loss.

n  Gum recession.

n  Bad Breath.

n  Painful chewing and biting.

n  Gum bleeding whilst brushing.

Treatment is usually sought from dentists, and whilst some simple treatments can be a  success, often surgery is involved, which can be very expensive. There are however a few home remedies for the treatment of pyorrhea which can be tried if the disease is recognized in its early stages. – -

Tags: Periodontal Disease, Pyorrhea, Teenager, Teeth Loss

About twenty percent (20%) of people suffer from mouth sores at some time or another, and they can develop in the teenager usually between the ages of 10 – 20 years.These unwanted mouth sore are known as Cankers or Aphthous Ulcers, and affect inner mouth, tongue, inside the cheek and lips.. Often they occur alone, but can form small clusters.

Signs of Canker Sores.

n  There is an initial burning or tingling sensation in the mouth before the appearance of any sore.

n  This feeling is followed by a red lump appearing in the mouth.

n  After 2/3 days this lump will grow and burst.

n  Following the bursting, a yellow – white wound will show with a reddish border.

Tags: Aphthous Ulcer, Cankers, Mouth Sores, Teenager

For any teenager suffering the pain and possible effects of having a tooth abscess, he/she will only be too aware of the signs and symptoms of what is being suffered.

The teen may or not be familiar with what should be done next to obtain a thorough dental diagnoses, and what treatment is involved,

Diagnoses of teeth Abscesses.

1. The dentist will question the patient about the symptom feelings, and compare them with the actual infection symptoms which are observed.
2. It may be sufficient for only a visual inspection to take place, and this will be enough if the dentist sees the abscess, gum boil, or swelling of the gums. The problem will readily have been identified.

Tags: Diagnoses, Teenager, Tooth Abscess, Treatment

Just as in the case of the use of illicit drugs and even some prescribed drugs causing  problems with teeth, so similarly they can affect the use of a teens gums.

The problems caused to the gums include gum bleeding, inflammation and possible ulceration. Some of the drugs which can lead to gum problems are – -

Drugs Affecting Gum Health.

n  Antihistamines.

n  Drugs used in Chemotherapy.

n  Cocaine used on the gums and Crack Cocaine when smoked.

n  Some oral contraceptives.

n  Immuno suppression drugs.

Treatments For Poor Gum Health.

Tags: Gum Problems, Illicit Drugs, Prescribed Drugs