Oral health issues are prevalent among adolescents, often requiring visits to dental professionals. Among these issues are irregular teeth growth, requiring braces, wisdom teeth extraction, and dental cavities.
Orthodontics is a dentistry specialty that addresses irregular teeth, jaw, and bite development, as well as facial abnormalities. General dentists will refer patients to orthodontists if abnormalities are detected, and the American Dental Association recommends orthodontic evaluations for adolescents over seven years old. Orthodontic treatments like braces are most effective for those aged ten to fourteen years old, but the same processes apply to all ages. Braces can be of different types, including brackets made of metal or plastic, lingual brackets attached to the back teeth, and metal bands that cover and wrap around the teeth.
Adolescents with braces must take special precautions, including brushing teeth after every meal, flossing between the braces and teeth in the morning, and avoiding sticky or hard foods. General dentists or orthodontists should clean braces every five to six months.
Wisdom teeth, or third molars, can cause problems as they grow in people aged fifteen to twenty-five. If they cause pain, swelling, or infection, or if they risk damaging other teeth, they should be extracted surgically by a general dentist or oral surgeon.
Tooth cavities, caused by bacteria-produced acids that eat away tooth enamel and dentin, are five times more prevalent than asthma in adolescents. Brushing teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and avoiding sugary foods and carbonated drinks helps prevent tooth decay. Fluoridated water or supplements can also help prevent cavities.
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