If you are the parent of a teen, you may already have some concerns about your child’s dental health in Los Angeles. As young men and women progress towards complete independence, some make questionable choices when it comes to their health. You may know Los Angeles teens that skip meals and others that just eat ramen noodles for lunch and dinner. Some teenagers spend more hours on Instagram than sleeping. Dental issues manifesting in the adolescent years can affect dental health in Los Angeles for life. Let’s consider some critical dental issues for adolescents.

Wisdom Teeth
The third molars usually appear between late adolescence and the mid-twenties. Common wisdom teeth issues include bite misalignment, dental caries, gum disease, and damage to the nearby teeth. It is critical to monitor wisdom teeth and to follow the guidance of your dentist.

Eating Disorders
Parents who notice their teen abnormally preoccupied with body image and weight loss should be on the lookout for bulimia and anorexia. These serious disorders should not be ignored. Parents are advised to seek treatment immediately for their children if they discover that their teen is binging and purging or intentionally restricting food.

Oral Health and Orthodontia
Braces can make proper brushing challenging. Toothbrushes and flossing devices that squirt water can help adolescents with braces clean their teeth and gums.

Sugar-Heavy Diet
If you visit any high school during lunch hour, you will see that sugar-laden soda, juice, and energy drinks are becoming a common staple at schools. While juice is definitely the healthiest choice of the three, heavy juice consumption can impair enamel just as effectively as a can of Coke. Water is the best drink for teeth as well as calcium-rich milk, which leads us to our next section.

Inadequate Calcium Intake
Some teenagers who drank milk daily as kids curtail their consumption when they start eating meals away from home. This is unfortunate because calcium is just as indispensable for young adults as it is for younger children. For strong teeth and bones, encourage your teen to enjoy low-fat dairy products daily for their dental health in Los Angeles.

We encourage Los Angeles parents to be vigilant about twice-yearly dental exams and cleanings for their teens. To schedule an extensive examination and cleaning, call Dr. Bill Dorfman, DDS – Century City Aesthetic Dentistry at 855-703-7062. Our office offers services such as porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, and preventative dentistry.

Contact Dr. Bill Dorfman, DDS – Century City Aesthetic Dentistry:

855-703-7062

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2080 Century Park E Ste 1601
Los Angeles, California
90067