No matter what age, people need to be taking good care of their teeth. The teen years are no different but most have dating and SATS on the brain instead of caring about teeth. Without proper care, teens may be finding themselves making extra trips to the dentist and the New York orthodontist. Soda consumption is at an all time high despite efforts from both the government and schools to cut back. Soda and carbonated beverages contain excessive amounts of sugar and acids which can easily lead to erosion and tooth decay. Water may not taste as good, but it’s great for your teeth.

Your teen might be desperate to get a lip or tongue piercing. The truth is that oral piercings can put your teen at risk for chipping teeth and fractures that will require fillings and crowns, not to mention the possibility of infection. If teens can’t even care for their teeth, how are they going to properly care for a piercing?

Teens are easily stressed and many will think it’s okay to pull an all-nighter. However, all that stress can actually lead to tooth grinding which in turn can lead to TMJ. I know teens are worried about how they look, but if they play sports, they should be wearing mouth guards to protect teeth. With smart decisions and frequent trips to the dentist and New York orthodontist, your teens can have healthy pearly whites.