How to promote good dental care for your teens

Getting kids to take care of their teeth can be a challenge. The consequences of poor dental hygiene, such as gum disease, are not a concern for teens, who tend to be more focused on the here and now. And there’s more to good dental hygiene than brushing. Here’s what your adolescent—and everyone in the family—should be doing to promote good dental care:

• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes.
• Floss daily.
• Go to the dentist for a cleaning and checkup every six months.
• Limit sugary drinks to meal times to prevent cavities.
• Provide your teen a personal water bottle to help them stay on track with drinking water between meals.

How can you get your adolescent to follow through? To make brushing less of a chore, perhaps he or she could floss and brush while listening to music or watching a video. If that doesn’t work, appeal to your teen’s vanity. Threats of cavities and gum disease may not sway him or her, but the thought of yellow teeth and bad breath might get your teen’s attention!

Want to know more about finding a pediatric dentist, making an appointment, or checking your covered benefits? Call the number on your member ID card.