Do you have a hard time getting your kids to floss or worry that they’re not flossing correctly? Lots of kids resist flossing or just don’t do a good job of it. As your dentist could tell you, lots of adults have the same problem.

Get your kids in the habit of flossing correctly while they’re young so that it becomes a lifelong habit — one that they keep up with when they reach their adult years. If the daily battle over flossing is getting the best of you, don’t give up. There are ways to ensure cooperation from your kids and make sure that they’re flossing effectively.

If your young adolescent isn’t happy with the way his or her teeth look, porcelain or composite dental veneers are an option you can consider, provided that all his or her permanent teeth have come through. Here are some things to keep in mind if you consider dental veneers for your adolescent.

When Dentists Recommend Veneers

Dental veneers can improve the appearance of your adolescent’s teeth—particularly teeth that are discolored or damaged. A dentist may recommend veneers to change the shape, size, or color of your young teen’s teeth if they overlap, if they have small gaps between them, or if they are permanently stained, chipped, broken, or uneven.

Dentists sometimes suggest the use of veneers on teeth that are discolored due to too much fluoride or due to staining medications, such as tetracycline and doxycycline, which are antibiotics doctors prescribe to treat bacterial infections. Such drugs can cause permanent staining of the teeth when children younger than age 8 consume it. The drugs can even affect children in utero.

There’s a fantastic feeling that comes when your teen is finally released from the world of brackets, elastic bands, and endless appointments for adjustments for braces. This freedom however, may quickly be dampened by the reality of the retainer. 

Many teens push against wearing retainers. The retainers may get lost or break. Many kids are so tired of wearing braces that they feel like wearing a retainer is just too much to ask. The call of “mouth freedom” is hard to resist.

Porcelain veneers allow you to transform your smile, hiding numerous cosmetic issues like staining, chipped teeth, and abnormally shaped teeth. However, once you have the veneers put into place, you want to ensure they last a lifetime. They’re not cheap to replace, so it’s worth your while to do all you can to keep them — and your underlying teeth — in the best shape possible.

Acid. It’s what makes lemons taste sour and what makes vinegar such a great cleaning solution. It’s also your teeth’s worst enemy. Cavities and tooth decay are caused by acids, and extensive exposure to acid can cause weakened enamel.

If you want to keep your teeth healthy and strong, it’s important to know your enemy! Here’s a closer look at how acid attacks teeth and how to protect them.