Anticipatory Guidance

Discuss with Adolescent and/or Parents:

Oral Hygiene

• Scheduling a dental visit according to the schedule recommended by your dentist, based on your individual needs and susceptibility to disease.
• If you have special health care needs, making appointments for more frequent dental visits based on your individual needs and susceptibility to disease. Obtaining assistance with brushing your teeth, if needed, and obtaining special oral health equipment (e.g., a mouth prop) to complete the task.
• Brushing your teeth twice a day (after breakfast and before bed) with fluoridated toothpaste, and flossing daily. Spitting out the toothpaste after brushing, but not rinsing with water. The small amount of fluoridated toothpaste that remains in your mouth helps prevent tooth decay.
• Becoming familiar with the normal appearance of your gums and teeth so that you can identify problems if they occur (Tooth Eruption Chart).
• Taking fluoride supplements only as prescribed by a dentist or physician, based on the risk of developing tooth decay and the known level of fluoride in your drinking water (see Systemic FluorideSupplements: Recommended Dosage).
• Discussing with a dentist or other qualified health professional the need to apply fluoride topically (via varnishes, gels, foams), which renews the high levels of fluoride in the outer layer of the tooth enamel. Topical fluoride may be especially effective for adolescents at high risk for tooth decay because they have a history of decay, are not exposed to fluoridated water, snack frequently on foods containing sugar, or have a medical problem that decreases their resistance to decay.
• Discussing with a dentist or other qualified health professional the need to apply dental sealants (thin plastic coatings applied to pits and fissures on the chewing surfaces of the teeth) to prevent tooth decay by creating a physical barrier against dental plaque, shortly after the teeth erupt.
• Discussing with a dentist the need to establish a preventive oral health regimen, including an evaluation of the bite and third molar development.