You Still Need To Worry About Your Teeth: 3 Dental Problems You Could Face As A Teenager

You're reached your teenage years. You probably think that your worries over dental problems will go away now that you've outgrown adolescence. Unfortunately, that's not actually true. In fact, now that you're a teenager, you need to be even more concerned about your teeth. That's because you'll be exposed to different risk factors that can harm your teeth. For instance, now that you're a teenager, you probably drink more soda or eat more fast food than you did when you were younger. The added sugar and simple carbohydrates can lead to tooth decay if you're not careful. Not only that, but there are other issues you'll need to be concerned about. Here are three potential risks you may face now that you're a teenager.

Eruption of Wisdom Teeth

When you were little, you didn't need to worry about your wisdom teeth. That's because they weren't going to affect you for a few more years. However, now that you're a teenager, your wisdom teeth could erupt. Sometime between the ages of 17-21 years, your wisdom teeth should begin to grow in. When they do, there might not be enough room in your mouth for them. If that's the case, you may notice some considerable pain, especially if your wisdom teeth start pushing the rest of your teeth out of the way. If you start noticing extreme pain in the back part of your mouth, past your last molars, you'll need to tell your dentist. You may need to have your wisdom teeth removed.

Problems Associated with Mouth Piercings

If you've decided to celebrate your teenage years by having your tongue or cheeks pierced, you should know that you may end up doing damage to your teeth. In fact, you could end up harming your health too. After the piercings your tongue may swell, which can interfere with your ability to breathe. You could bite down on your mouth jewelry and damage your teeth. Not only that, but the piercings themselves can become infected, which could cause serious health problems for you. Before you have your mouth pierced, be sure you talk to your dentist about the potential health risks involved with the procedure.

Damage Caused by Tobacco Use

It's not uncommon to try new things when you become a teenager. One of the things that you shouldn't try is tobacco use. You might not realize this, but smoking is bad for your teeth. You've probably heard that it's bad for your health, but you might not know what it can do to your teeth. For one thing, it can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. For another, it can slow down your ability to heal, which means normal dental procedures might not heal as quickly, or you could develop an infection after your dental procedures. To protect your teeth and your health, you should avoid tobacco use altogether.

For more information, contact companies like Milner Dentistry.