| ADOLESCENCE • 11–21 YEARS |
Anticipatory Guidance
Discuss with Adolescent and/or Parents: (continued)
Injury Prevention
- Learning how to prevent oral injuries and handle oral emergencies, especially the loss or fracture of a tooth.
If a permanent tooth is knocked
out, you or an adult should (1) find the avulsed (lost)
tooth, (2) hold it by the crown (top part) only, not the
root, (3) rinse it under cold water gently if the root
is dirty, but do not scrub, (4) reinsert it into the socket
quickly, making sure that the front of the tooth is facing
you, and (5) go to the dentist immediately. If it is not
possible to replace the tooth, place the tooth in a container
of cold milk or in a cold wet
cloth and go to a dentist immediately.- If a tooth is fractured or chipped, you or an adult should (1) rinse your mouth with water, (2) apply cold compresses to the cheek to reduce swelling, and (3) go to the dentist immediately.
- Wearing a safety belt while riding or driving in a vehicle. If you are driving, insisting that your passengers also wear safety belts.
- Wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle, all-terrain vehicle, or motorcycle. Adolescents under age 16 should not ride an all-terrain vehicle or motorcycle.
- Wearing protective gear when participating in physical activities or sports that could potentially result in injuries to the mouth, such as biking, skateboarding, in-line skating, or playing baseball, soccer, or lacrosse.
- Avoiding oral piercings, which can damage teeth and gums.
Substance Use
- Not smoking cigarettes or using spit tobacco.
Outcomes
- Parents and adolescent are under the care of an oral health professional.
- Parents and adolescent are informed of oral development issues.
- Parents and adolescent understand and practice good oral hygiene and eating behaviors.
- Parents and adolescent establish a safe environment, and parents and adolescent practice safety behaviors.
- Adolescent has no oral disease or injury.