Teenage Oral Wasteland: Why They Shouldn’t Give Their Mouth The ‘Brush-Off’

Anaida Deti, owner and CEO of DentalX, and registered dental hygienist, explains why it’s so important for adolescents to maintain proper dental hygiene and offers easy tips to having a smile worth showing off

Dental-XPTORONTO, ON—teenagers take great pride in their appearance, but they seem to miscalculate the work it entails to maintain a healthy smile. Add in their new found independence and social lives and they’re just too busy to be giving extra attention to their teeth or to be going to their check-ups.

Although, dental sealants can help with keeping plaque and food at bay, when their plastic barrier is painted on to the back teeth, Certified Dental Hygienist Anaida Deti says that dental decay is the most common chronic disease in young people between the ages of 5 and 17; cavities are not just for little kids, and the fact that teeth are actually one of the first things people notice, it’s vital that teens make the effort to keeping their oral hygiene in good order.

Here are 5 easy tips Anaida suggests that teens can use to not have to worry about ‘watching’ their mouths

  1. Make it a part of your day: it’s easy to maintain dental health when it’s part of your daily routine of things to do; brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once can greatly reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum buildup. If your teen wears dental braces, makes sure their brushing and flossing after every meal to avoid debris getting stuck to their teeth and wires
  2. Play it safe: it’s all fun and games until someone loses a tooth! More than 200,000 injuries to the mouth and jaw occur each year, so if your teen is involved in contact sports it’s important they use a mouth guard. Make sure they rinse it often and store it in a ventilated container
  3. Keep it clean: it’s normal to grab a quick snack in between classes or activities, but it’s what kind of snack they choose that’s important. Foods and drinks loaded with sugar can wreak havoc on teeth, causing cavities and damage the tooth enamel. Opt for something healthier like fruits, veggies and cheese sticks. Remember, apples are nature’s toothbrush!
  4. Where there’s smoke there’s….: studies continuously show tobacco users usually start smoking in their teens. It’s imperative that parents sit and discuss the health and dental consequences of using tobacco products, such as tooth and gum staining, dental tartar build-up and stinky breath.
  5. Avoid oral piercings: although tongue and lip piercings remain a trend with teens, it’s also very dangerous. Not only do you run the risk of having your tongue swell and sometimes become infected after being punctured, but you can also chip you teeth from the mouth jewelry which can cause the need for fillings and sometimes even a root canal.

To interview Anaida on dental wellness and oral health or to have her give an interactive demo, please contact:

Rania Walker, sparqstreet.com
rania@sparqstreet.com
416.258.8953

ABOUT ANAIDA DETI:
When Anaida Deti immigrated to Canada from Albania 10 years ago with her husband, she had only $500 in her pocket and a dream of opening her own business. Seven years, seven-day workweeks and a diploma later, she opened the doors to her very own dental hygiene practice, becoming CEO of Dental-X Smile Centers now DentalX. A registered Dental Hygenist, Anaida has made it her mission to educate patients on the importance of dental health.

Anaida is a member of the Canadian, Ontario and Toronto Dental Hygienists Association, and was elected as the ODHA Ambassador for Toronto North. She founded Mission Kind (Kids In Need of Dentalcare), to help children aged 6-16 obtain much needed dental work at no charge. In 2015, she became a finalist for the MOMpreneur Award for Excellence. Anaida is a coveted speaker at dental conventions and seminars. Her passion and dental expertise has garnered her media coverage on Rogers Daytime Television, and Sirius XM Radio’s What She Said. She has been featured in the Toronto Star, Elevate, and Focus Magazine. Connect with her @anaidadeti  www.DentalX.com

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