Growing up, most oral hygiene habits are developed early in life, it is very important that from day one, children, adolescents and adults create and practice good oral hygiene habits to avoid the many effects. poor oral hygiene. Caring for a child's teeth begins after birth, before most children even have their teeth, parents should start cleaning their child's gums from birth with a soft toothbrush or cloth, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. This helps keep the baby's mouth clean, gets them used to brushing their teeth, and gets them used to having a clean mouth. Once the first tooth comes in, it's time to start brushing the child's teeth with a gentle baby. Once someone enters adolescence, different factors will add up to how a person should care for their teeth. Some things don't change, however, teens should still floss daily and brush their teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. There is also a higher prevalence of gingivitis in adolescents than in children or prepubescent adults. If the adolescent is physically active, he or she should wear a mouthguard while active to prevent injury to the teeth. The teen should also avoid sugary drinks or snacks like soda, Gatorade, or candy. Avoiding bad habits like smoking, chewing tobacco or even drugs is imperative for any person's health, but it is important to ensure that the adolescent is aware of the negative effects that this can have on their teeth since 88% of smokers develop this bad habit at the end of their life. the time they turned eighteen. Smoking and chewing tobacco use are commonly associated with oral cancer and head and neck cancers. Piercings on any part of the mouth, including the lips and finger piercings, can damage teeth. Oral health problems associated with oral jewelry include jewelry swallowing, jewelry aspiration, fractured teeth, gum recession, and speech impediments. Many teens also develop tooth sensitivity from using too many whitening products due to the desire they have to whiten their teeth for cosmetic purposes. It is important to make sure that if the teen wants to whiten their teeth, they see a dentist for a recommendation. what products they should use. Eating disorders are also something that adolescents should avoid, not only for their general health, but also for their oral health, as they can cause damage to the teeth and mouth, malocclusion, mouth dryness, bruises on the palate and much more. Crowded or crooked teeth may also cause the teen to need braces.