Nowadays, teens go through lots of dental problems. This is because of their abnormal eating habits and excessive consumption of alcohol and sugar-rich drinks. Rather than nutrients, acceptance from peers and friends direct their eating choices.
Eating too many snacks or drinking sugary drinks could lead to numerous dental issues. Additionally, teenagers are involved in various sports. This increases their chances of tooth loss due to a sports injury.
What follows are some of the common dental issues teens are facing nowadays. Knowing these problems will prepare you and your kid for any eventuality.
Table of Contents
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth, aka the third molars, get their name by being the last teeth to come in during young adulthood, the time when you gain “wisdom”. By the age of 13, most people will get their permanent teeth. Your wisdom teeth will come between the ages of 17 and 21.
Sometimes, they will not have enough room to come in or are in the wrong position to come straight up. When your teen goes through this, visit a dentist Sydney on priority and get them removed.
It is essential to see your dentist regularly as they can evaluate the progress of your wisdom teeth. If you notice the below-mentioned changes in the mouth, consult your dentist on priority:
- Infection
- Cysts
- Pain
- Tumours
- Damage to surrounding teeth
- Gum disease
- Tooth decay
Mouth Jewelry
Oral piercings or tongue splitting have been trendy among youth in recent times. These mouth jewelry may look cool, but these piercings can adversely affect your oral and overall health. That is because our mouth contains millions of bacteria, which can lead to swelling and infection.
This jewelry can prove fatal as your mouth and tongue could swell so much that it closes off your airway, or you could choke because of a broken jewelry part.
Meth Mouth
Meth mouth is the term for the damage caused by the illegal and highly addictive drug methamphetamine. Meth mouth is one of the many dangerous effects this drug can have on its users oral health. Apart from this, meth can cause shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, high blood pressure, hyperthermia, and rampant tooth decay.
The teeth of meth users are usually blackened, stained, rotting, crumbling or falling apart.
Smoking
We all know that smoking is bad for our health, so it should be no surprise that you should prohibit the usage of all types of tobacco products. These products are not only bad for your general health, as these products can also deteriorate your oral health.
Now, smoking can cause bad breath in addition to:
- Stained teeth
- Oral cancer
- Gum diseases and tooth loss
- Dulled sense of taste and smell
A cosmetic dentist may help you bring back the natural color of your teeth, but this color won’t stay for long. If you want to avoid discoloration of your teeth, you need to quit smoking.
Sugar and Tooth Decay
Too much sugar intake is leading teenagers toward tooth decay. Overeating sugar will cause plaque to form on the tooth. It will contain germs that will start feeding on the sugars from the carbonated drinks and foods the teens are eating and drinking.
It is a very painful and very embarrassing condition for teens. It can even slow speech and jaw development in extreme cases in kids. This issue can quickly lead to severe pain and discomfort if left unattended.
So, you must find the best dentist and take your teen immediately if you notice swollen gums and brown spots on their teeth.
Cosmetic Dental Issues
Their personal appearance is everything for teenagers. Once they grow up, they start paying more attention to it and what others might think about them. So, it is normal for teens to worry about how their teeth look.
So, if your teen asks for treatment for crooked teeth, then find the best cosmetic dentist and book an immediate appointment. Not only getting teeth to align will improve your teen’s appearance, but it will also help keep his or her oral health on top.
Orthodontic Problems
Teens are always involved in various sports and adventurous activities. This will expose them to the risk of dental injuries due to accidents. Now, injuries to the mouth can lead to a condition called malocclusion. It happens due to teeth spacing and jaw alignment problems.
Your teen will find it hard to chew or bite if he or she suffers from malocclusion. Diastema, overbite, underbite, and crowded teeth can also cause malocclusion.
Final Words
These are some of the most common problems teen are facing in recent times. Getting to know these dental problems will help you prepare yourself to be ready with the solution when it comes to that.
