As the parent of teenagers, you may have a lot on your mind. You're probably thinking about your children's futures. Well, dental health is a large part of their futures. Unfortunately, they might be making mistakes that can negatively impact their dental health. Be on the lookout for the mistakes that are especially common with adolescents.

Failing to Wear a Retainer

Some teenagers don't like to wear their retainers. It might not feel comfortable while they're trying to sleep. Dentists prescribe retainers for a reason, though — to keep your teen's teeth in their new spot. They usually prescribe passive retainers for teens who've worn braces to correct their smiles. If teens don't wear them, though, the teeth might shift into their old spots.

When teenagers don't wear their retainer at night, they sometimes have to upgrade to an active retainer. These retainers are made to gently guide a tooth into the desired position. Not only are active retainers more noticeable than the passive variety, but your teen may have to wear it all day.

Playing Sports without a Mouthguard

Discomfort is also the reason some teenagers don't like to wear their mouthguards when they play sports. Anytime they participate in an impact or contact sport, they should wear a mouthguard. However, according to a recent study, large percentages of youth athletes fail to wear their mouthguards.

You can get your teenagers fitted for custom mouthguards with a dentist. These mouthguards conform perfectly to your teen's mouth. The mouthguard can protect them from chipped, broken, or lost teeth as well as jaw injuries and cuts to the mouth area.

Wearing Mouth Jewelry

Many teens like to show off their individuality. One of their methods for doing so is with mouth jewelry, including pieced lips and tongues. You may think it's a relatively harmless form of self-expression because they can always take the piercing out. Unfortunately, with all the bacteria in the human mouth, the piercing can easily become infected, which spreads more bacteria around.

The jewelry itself represents a danger to their mouth health. It can bang against their teeth while they're chewing, which can chip the teeth. It might even create microfractures, which are a prime entrance for all that bacteria in people's mouths. They may end up with more cavities. It may also cut their gums. Not only are those cuts painful at the time, but they can also lead to future gum disease.

Talk to your teens about the ways they can best preserve their future smiles.

For more information, contact a dentist in your area.