Oral And Dental Health in Adolescents

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical developmental period characterised by rapid physical, psychological, and behavioural changes that significantly influence oral and dental health. Conditions originating in childhood, such as dental caries and anxiety, may persist or worsen. Risk factors frequently encountered during this stage include poor dietary habits, nicotine use, early-onset alcohol consumption, substance abuse, eating disorders, oral piercings, and increased orthodontic needs. Excessive consumption of sugary and acidic foods contributes to caries development and erosion, while the rising prevalence of obesity in adolescents—strongly linked with caries—highlights the need for integrated health strategies. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, which are more common during this period, can cause severe oral complications including enamel erosion, mucosal trauma, and salivary dysfunction. Risky behaviours such as substance use may result in periodontal disease, dental trauma, or tooth loss. Moreover, increased participation in contact sports increases the incidence of orofacial injuries, which can be mitigated through preventive measures such as custom-fitted mouthguard. This review analyzes the bidirectional relationship between adolescent obesity, eating disorders, and dental caries prevalence during adolescence, a critical period in which behavioural patterns with long-term implications for oral health are established. Moreover, the review addresses other major oral health challenges unique to this age group, emphasising evidence-based preventive protocols in paediatric dentistry. In conclusion, the impact of these conditions on general health and quality of life is evaluated, underscoring the importance of timely, evidence-based preventive and therapeutic approaches.

Keywords

• Adolescents
• dental health education
• feeding and eating disorders
• paediatric obesity
• sports injuries

Ergenlerde Ağız ve Diş Sağlığı

Abstract

Adölesan dönem, bireylerin fiziksel, psikolojik ve sosyal açıdan hızlı bir gelişim gösterdiği kritik bir evredir. Bu dönemde, çocukluk çağında başlayan ağız ve diş sağlığı sorunları devam edebilmekte ve daha karmaşık hale gelebilmektedir. Ergenlik dönemi, yüksek çürük prevalansı, travmatik dental yaralanma riski, dental fobi, yetersiz beslenme alışkanlıkları, alkol ve madde kullanımı, yeme bozuklukları, oral piercing kullanımı, nikotin kullanımı ve ortodontik tedavi ihtiyacı gibi ağız sağlığını olumsuz etkileyebilecek birçok risk faktörünü barındırmaktadır. Yetersiz beslenme alışkanlıkları, özellikle şekerli ve asidik gıdaların aşırı tüketimi, çürük insidansında artışa neden olabilmektedir. Ayrıca, adölesan dönemde obezite prevalansının artması ve obezite ile diş çürüğü arasındaki güçlü korelasyon, bu yaş grubunda ağız sağlığının korunmasının önemini artırmaktadır. Ergenlik dönemi, bireylerin yetişkinlikteki beslenme alışkanlıkları ve genel sağlık durumlarının şekillenmesinde belirleyici rol oynamaktadır. Anoreksiya nervoza ve bulimia nervoza yeme bozuklukları da bu dönemde sıkça görülmekte ve ağız-diş sağlığı üzerinde ciddi olumsuz etkilere yol açabilmektedir. Alkol ve madde kullanımı ise periodontal hastalıklar, dental erozyon ve diş kayıpları gibi ciddi oral sağlık sorunlarına zemin hazırlayabilmektedir. Kontakt sporlara ilginin artması ve erken yaşta spora başlama eğilimi, orofasiyal yaralanma riskini artırmaktadır. Diş hekimliği, ağız koruyucuları gibi koruyucu yaklaşımlarla bu yaralanmaların önlenmesinde önemli rol oynamaktadır. Bu derleme, ağız sağlığı üzerinde uzun vadeli etkileri olabilecek davranış kalıplarının oluştuğu adölesan dönemde, bireylerin ağızdiş sağlığı üzerine etkili olabilecek faktörleri ele alarak, ergen obezitesi/yeme bozuklukları ile çürük prevalansı arasındaki çift yönlü ilişkiyi analiz etmekte ve pedodontide kanıta dayalı koruyucu protokollere odaklanmaktadır. Aynı zamanda, ergenlerin karşılaştığı oral sağlık sorunları, bu sorunların genel sağlık ve yaşam kalitesi üzerindeki etkilerini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır.

Keywords

• Adölesan
• diş sağlığı eğitimi
• beslenme ve yeme bozuklukları
• pediatrik obezite
• spor yaralanmaları

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