Two of the Most Common Dental Problems for Teenagers

A lot of kids go through a few dental issues right around the time they start entering high school, which honestly, sucks. Imagine feeling awkward because of your growth spurt over the summer, the sudden surge of hormones causing acne breakouts, hair growth in places that you’re not used to (for men, long eyelashes might start growing out while women will find their armpits with a little more hair than usual), and now your teeth are going through the wringer too.

Luckily, there are a lot of corrective items that teens can use to get these unfortunate issues fixed, like clear dental aligners or retainers. Is it ‘uncool’? Sure, but trust us: you’re going to get used to it and you’re not going to need it in a couple of years. And if you don’t get the necessary help early on in your teen years, you’re going to end up wishing you got a pair of retainers once you start going through these two common dental problems teenagers go through:

 

The Dreaded Wisdom Teeth

Ah yes, the dreaded wisdom teeth. Also known as your third molars, many people are aware of the horror stories some people go through once their wisdom teeth start poking out. Wisdom teeth are so named because they usually emerge at the first years of adulthood (usually around the ages of 17 to 21), and are a symbol of the ‘wisdom’ that maturity brings.

However, should these teeth come out wrong, they’ll be bringing more than just wisdom; in fact, more often than not, wisdom teeth that grow in the wrong way usually bring:

• Severe pain
• Cysts
• Damage to Other Teeth
• Infection
• Tooth Decay
• Gum Disease

Every person’s dental development follows an individual schedule, which is why it’s so important for teenagers to visit their dental professional on a regular schedule, as your dentist can determine what pre-emptive steps they can take should your wisdom tooth not grow out in the way it should.

 

Smoking Harms Your Mouth and It Makes You Smell Bad

There are zero benefits to smoking. Period.

But, of course, some teenagers will take up this awful habit as a way to rebel, or because some of their ill-guided peers will make them think it looks ‘cool’. It isn’t at all, and other than making you smell like an ashtray, pretty much all forms of tobacco can wreak havoc on your oral health (not to mention your health in general).

They don’t just make your clothes smell bad; they make your breath stink too. That’s right, stank mouth is the first and most noticeable side effect of smoking, but it’s only the beginning because as you continue to smoke, you will most likely develop:

• A dulled sense of taste and smell (nicotine kills off tastebuds)
• Yellow Teeth and Stained Tongue
• Slower healing due to a decrease in blood circulation
•  Gum disease and tooth loss
• A greatly increased chance of developing oral cancer

There really is no other way to correct or reverse the damage done by smoking other than by quitting. It’s an addictive substance, however, and quitting requires more than just willpower; visit your local anti-smoking office if you want to quit.