If you have teenagers, you know how self-conscious they are about their appearance, including their smile. To help them maintain their killer smile, it's important that they see the dentist at least twice a year. In addition to those dental appointments, there are also some steps your teens can take to keep their teeth healthy and their smiles bright. Here are four tips that will help your teen care for their teeth.

Limit the Soda

If your teens are like most, they probably love their soda. Unfortunately, the added sugar and carbonation in those sodas could be wreaking havoc on their teeth. You might not realize this but the high sugar content and the acidity of the carbonation can eat away at the protective enamel on your kid's teeth. To help avoid tooth damage, your teens should limit the number of soda's they consume each week. It's also a good idea to have your kids rinse their mouths with clear water after consuming a soda. The water will help remove the harmful sugar and carbonation before damage can be done.

Avoid Oral Piercings

Oral piercings are popular among teens and young adults. However, oral piercings can be detrimental to your kid's teeth. First, if your teen chews on the piercings, or bites down too abruptly, their teeth can chip or break. Second, oral piercings can become infected, which can pose serious health risks. Before you say yes to oral piercings, talk to your dentist about the potential dangers your teen will face.

Wear a Mouth Guard

If your teen is involved in sports, it's important that they always wear a proper-fitting mouth guard. This includes sports-related activities that are part of their school's physical education requirements. A proper-fitting mouth guard will protect your teen from mouth injuries. To ensure maximum protection, you should have your dentist fit your teen with a custom mouth guard.

Be Cautious with Whitening

If your teen is using home remedies to whiten their teeth, they may be doing more harm than good. Some home remedies can cause permanent damage to the enamel. To ensure safe whitening, schedule your teen for professional treatments in the dentist's office.

Now that your teen is in high school, make sure they continue caring for their teeth. The tips provided here will help them avoid dental problems. For other questions and concerns about your teens teeth, be sure to speak to your childrens dentist.