Families For Life | Dental Care for Teenagers: 12-18 Years

Teeth development

The 32 adult teeth replace the baby teeth between the ages of 6 and 20 years. By the age of 12, most children have all their adult teeth except for their third molars (wisdom teeth), which appear around 18-20 years.

Cleaning teeth

Brushing teeth is important for keeping teeth clean and preventing tooth decay, bad breath and gum disease. But teenagers do not always brush their teeth, and there could be many reasons for this. For example, your child might not understand the importance of brushing teeth and gums, or they might just forget to do it.

Try to look out for signs that your child is not brushing their teeth. For example, their toothbrush has not been used, their teeth might not look clean, or they have swollen or bleeding gums or bad breath.

You can encourage your child to brush their teeth twice a day. Talking about why it is good to brush your teeth could be a good place to start.

In case your child needs reminding, here are the basic steps for brushing teeth:

Use a pea-sized amount of adult fluoride toothpaste.
Aim the toothbrush at a 45° angle towards the gumline. If you are using a manual toothbrush, move the brush in gentle circles. If you are using an electric toothbrush, move the brush gently across the teeth.
Start with the top teeth. Brush the outside surface of the top teeth and along the gumline, one tooth at a time. Then brush the inside surface of the teeth and gums, one tooth at a time.
Move to the bottom teeth and repeat the step above.
Brush along the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
Gently brush the tongue.
Brush for around 2 minutes.
Spit out the toothpaste as you clean. There is no need to rinse with water, though. Any leftover fluoride toothpaste helps to build strong, healthy teeth.

As well as brushing, your child can use waxed dental floss or an interdental brush to clean between their teeth once a day.

Toothbrushes: choosing and keeping them clean

Choosing a toothbrush
When you and your child are choosing a toothbrush, you can look for the following:

Soft bristles: these will not damage your child’s gums or tooth enamel.
A long handle: this will help your child reach all their teeth.
A small head: this will make it easy for your child to move the toothbrush one tooth at a time around their mouth.

Electric and manual toothbrushes are equally good, as long as you use them properly to clean all the surfaces of all your child’s teeth. Electric toothbrushes can be useful if your child has poor hand control. If you are deciding between a manual and an electric toothbrush, it is ok to let your child choose.

Keeping the toothbrush clean
Your child should rinse the toothbrush with tap water after cleaning teeth and gums. Your child should store the toothbrush upright in an open container to allow it to air-dry.

It is a good idea for your child to change their toothbrush every 3-4 months or when the bristles get worn or frayed.

Fluoride and dental care

Fluoride is a mineral that keeps teeth strong and prevents tooth decay. Fluoride is safe and works best when your child gets it in very small amounts throughout the day in:

toothpaste – at this age, your child can use regular adult fluoride toothpaste
foods containing fluoride, like fruit and vegetables.

For children who are at high risk of developing tooth decay, dentists might also prescribe gels and pastes with extra fluoride.

Cleaning teeth is not a guarantee against tooth decay. Diet is also important. Encourage your child to avoid sugary foods and sugary drinks like fruit juice, soft drink and flavoured milk. Smoking and consuming alcohol can also affect oral health. There is no safe level of alcohol or smoking for teenagers.

Dental sealants

Your dentist might recommend dental sealants for your child.

Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings that stick to the chewing surfaces of teeth, where most cavities in children are found. These sealants prevent plaque build-up in the grooves of the teeth and help prevent tooth decay. Applying the sealants is usually simple and quick, with no pain and minimal discomfort for your child.

Sealants do not stay on your child’s teeth forever. Your dentist will check them regularly. They might sometimes need fixing or replacing.

You can speak to your dentist about whether dental sealants are a good option for your child.

Visiting the dentist

It is important for your child to have regular dental check-ups. Your dentist will tell you how often your child needs a check-up. Dentists usually recommend every 6-12 months.

Your child might also see other oral health professionals, depending on your child’s needs. These include dental therapists, dental hygienists, oral health therapists or specialist dentists like paediatric dentists or orthodontists.