Taking good care of your teeth should happen at any age and should be taught starting at a young age, after all we only have one set of teeth and once they are gone that is that. According to recent studies the teen population tend to slack a little more than other age groups when it comes to take good care of their teeth, but what can you do as a parent to help your teen take proper care of their teeth? Hopefully these tips can help you both out and help ensure healthy teeth for years to come.

1. Avoid sugars and sugary foods. This is a given and anyone you ask would tell you the same thing, but how many of us actually do this? I am willing to guess not too many, but if you avoid the over consumption of sugars you will help keep your teeth strong. The same could be said for foods and drinks that are high in acidity, such as fruit juices and sodas. These acids and sugars break down the enamel on your teeth making them weak and susceptible to cavities.
2. Avoid drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco. While we as parents all hope our children will keep away from these toxic addictions the sad fact if most teens in the US today have at least tried one of these at one point in their high school career. While we cannot be with our children 24/7 we can help instill good morals and decision making skills in them to help keep them on the right path. Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and chewing tobacco can have serious health effects but they can also take a harsh toll on your pearly whites.
3. Brush and floss daily. Again another common sense tip right here, but how many people actually brush and floss multiple times a day? Ideally you should be brushing and flossing after every meal in order to prevent the food particles from settling on and between your teeth. This can cause breakdown of the enamel again in turn opening your teeth up for weakness and that is where cavities come in.
4. Be sure to attend your routine dental visits. Every 6 months is the recommended dental cleaning schedule, so twice a year you should be visiting your dentist and getting a good deep cleaning done to help keep those hard to reach places clean. Your dentist will also keep on top of any issues before they become big problems.