715-443-2247Unfortunately, tooth decay is most commonly found in people between the ages of 5 and 17, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you want your teenager to maintain a strong and healthy smile, then you need to help them as much as you can. To help you do so, our dentist, Dr. Paul Szmanda, encourages you to do the following things:
-Encourage your teen to skip out on the soda. The acidic compounds and sugar in the soda can attack the enamel, weaken it, and create cavities. It’s best to avoid drinking soda altogether. If your teen has to drink soda, encourage them to drink it through a straw so the beverage has less contact with the teeth.
-Make sure your teen uses a mouthguard while they participate in high-contact sports. A mouthguard can help them avoid oral injuries (like knocked-out and cracked teeth) when hard, forceful objects hit the mouth. There are stock, boil-and-bite, and custom-made mouthguards available.
-Discourage oral piercings. Oral piercings, like tongue or lip piercings, can easily chip and fracture the teeth while eating, talking, and even sleeping. The crack can result in the need for a filling or, if the crack is deeper, a root canal or tooth extraction.
If you have any questions or if you would like to know more about how to help your teen have a top-notch smile and oral health in Marathon, Wisconsin, please reach out to Szmanda Dental Marathon at 715-443-2247 at your earliest convenience. When you talk to our dental team, we will be thrilled to give you the answers you’re looking for!