The adolescent patient group is notoriously a challenging one. With an increase in independence, behaviour grows ever more experimental – with smoking, alcohol, drugs and diet choice (with high sugar consumption) all having a negative impact.
Resembling celebrity Kim Kardashian and nailing PlayStation’s FIFA 17 are the skills much coveted by today’s teenagers. Achieving lifelong optimum oral health less so.
A recent article, in the British Dental Journal, showed that sugar-sweetened drinks, including sports drinks, account for 30% of their total free sugar intake. Even opting for a healthier way of life can impact oral health. A vegan diet can lead to tooth decay and erosion, thanks to high fruit intake and accompanying high acidity levels. Additionally, oral piercings of the lip and tongue bring hazards such as chipped teeth and nerve and gum damage and recession.
And, when it comes to their nightlife, this too can be a nightmare. Teens who go to bed later than their parents are up to four times more likely to develop decay – failure to brush their teeth at night coupled with skipping breakfast and then snacking are all to blame.
And it’s not as if teenagers are unaware of the detrimental effects of a poorly maintained smile. The Child Dental Health Survey showed more than a quarter of 15 year olds are embarrassed to smile or laugh due to the condition of their teeth. Smile aesthetics may be a key concern for today’s teenagers but, for those undergoing orthodontic treatment, do they understand that optimum oral hygiene is paramount?
So, how best to level with the adolescents in your appointment books and get them on track with their oral health?
Make them feel special
Consider lengthier appointments to put teenagers at ease and take time to discuss good habits – remember it may be their first visit to the dentist alone, especially if they have just started university, and seeing a dentist away from home.
Inspire with desire
Celebrity is everything for many teenagers and social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram set the bar when it comes to appearance. Many celebrities have had orthodontic treatment and smile makeovers so it is worth featuring a few in your gallery of posters on the waiting-room wall alongside others that reinforce the importance of healthy living and toothbrushing.
Risk warnings
Dating and socialising are major influences at this stage. Talk about the risks to fresh breath, share photos of celebrities with their teeth Photoshopped out – a light-hearted but effective reminder of what they stand to lose. Shocking images of the damage that fizzy drinks wreak on teeth, demineralisation around an orthodontic bracket, or photos of nicotine-stained gums and mouth cancer can motivate. And don’t forget to highlight the sexual risks associated with the HPV virus, a leading cause of oro-pharyngeal cancers. At this moment in time, boys are yet to be included in the Government’s vaccination programme so it is important to raise awareness. Remind them that regular attendance means they are screened. Shock value is like Marmite – but, love it or hate it, it works for some!
Get them kitted out and clued up – for FREE
Who doesn’t love a giveaway and teenagers are no exception. Free toothbrushes, toothpaste and disclosing tablets are always helpful and even encouraging good habits with a giveaway packet of sugarfree gum can help – if all 12 year olds in the UK chewed sugarfree gum three times per day, the significant decline in decay could save the NHS up to 8.2 million per annum. Spend time discussing the power of interdental brushes, electric toothbrushes with timers and flossers. If possible, offer a discount to under 18s. And why not give away free bottles of water while discussing the risks of erosive energy drinks and sports bars? If necessary, share some clinical studies that illustrate your point.
#SharingisCaring
Encourage younger patients to follow your social media account – hopefully you have one. Or direct them to your practice website – and be mindful of this audience when blogging. You may wish to include a page specifically for teenagers. Share some dental apps, such as Brush DJ that times toothbrushing with two minutes of a track taken from their own playlist, and the Change4Life Sugar Swap app. There are also a number of food diary apps that will encourage interest in their healthy (or otherwise) intake.
Savvy communication
As most dental disease can be prevented, it makes sense to encourage future generations to take a preventive approach to their oral care. Make your communication generation-specific and encourage them to schedule in a regular appointment on their smartphone or text them appointment reminders, if the patient consents.
