Most parents understand the importance of taking their children to the dentist periodically. However, many don't realize that their child's dental health can be fine up until their teenage years, when things can go significantly wrong. Roland Buyama DDS has been practicing professionally for more than 13 years and has seen many adolescents who suddenly develop dental problems in their teenage years. This is not surprising considering the fact that tooth decay actually takes place on a time-delayed basis. In other words, all of the damage a child does to their teeth during their younger years has an impact on their dental health during their teenage years if positive dental hygiene habits are not adopted.
Perhaps the most common issues that plague teenagers are gum disease, plaque buildup, and cavities. Some teenagers also pick up bad habits like smoking and drinking coffee, both of which can contribute to tooth discoloration, bad breath, and cavities. As teens get older they tend to become more independent in their diet/nutrition choices, and most of the time this is when bad habits that lead to adult tooth decay begin to take hold. Dr. Buyama says that teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 are most likely to begin neglecting their dental hygiene practices, so this is an important age for parents to become more aware of their child's actions.
Another issue that teenagers have to deal with is the growth of their jaws and facial bones, a process that can contribute to misaligned teeth. Younger teenagers are also just getting the last of their permanent teeth, and as these new teeth start to grow in they are most vulnerable to decay. Although it is important to schedule regular checkups for younger children, teenagers are also susceptible to dental health issues and are still in the developmental stages of their life, so Dr. Buyama suggests that all parents continue to schedule regular dentist appointments throughout the teen's adolescence.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Dr. Roland Buyama Reviews the Link between School Attendance and Dental Hygiene
Studies have shown that students in the United States missed more than 50 million school hours each year due to dental health problems and related issues. Conversely, students who have healthy teeth consistently maintain better attendance records. Furthermore, most children who miss a single day due to an oral health condition will wind up missing at least one to two more days because of a related issue. One of the primary symptoms of oral disease (a toothache) can be extremely distracting to a student, leading to a lack of concentration, resulting in poor grades, and often causing them to miss school altogether. Dr. Roland Buyama stresses the importance of pediatric dentistry and proper dental hygiene during a child's younger years in order to avoid the unnecessary pain, hassle, and absences associated with dental problems that may arise later on.
Aside from brushing and flossing, students are urged to attend at least two dentist appointments per year. As a pediatric dentistry specialists, Dr. Roland Buyama has dealt with young people of all ages, ranging from toddlers to teenagers. He says that most dental problems found in younger children are easier to treat than those seen in teenagers, as many teenagers have already become accustomed to poor dental hygiene practices and have been developing oral health issues for years.
The facts speak for themselves – failing to schedule dentist appointments for your child will not only increase the chances of them missing school days, it will also result in physical and emotional pain as they'll have to deal with toothaches and the self-esteem issues that come with poor dental health. With practices like Dr. Buyama's accepting government-funded assistance, and so may ways to obtain dental health coverage for your child, there is simply no excuse to subject them to the challenges associated with poor dental health.
Aside from brushing and flossing, students are urged to attend at least two dentist appointments per year. As a pediatric dentistry specialists, Dr. Roland Buyama has dealt with young people of all ages, ranging from toddlers to teenagers. He says that most dental problems found in younger children are easier to treat than those seen in teenagers, as many teenagers have already become accustomed to poor dental hygiene practices and have been developing oral health issues for years.
The facts speak for themselves – failing to schedule dentist appointments for your child will not only increase the chances of them missing school days, it will also result in physical and emotional pain as they'll have to deal with toothaches and the self-esteem issues that come with poor dental health. With practices like Dr. Buyama's accepting government-funded assistance, and so may ways to obtain dental health coverage for your child, there is simply no excuse to subject them to the challenges associated with poor dental health.
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