Today’s teenagers have been stereotyped as adventurous and harebrained individuals.  They are generally fond of experimenting with things until they get in touch with drugs, sex, guns, alcohol among others. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures, 16,000 young adults die each year from unintentional injuries and accidents.  The most common justification for teenagers’ care-free attitude is that their brains just aren’t developed enough to know better. However, recent research shows that in some cases the fact is just the opposite, the brain matures not too slowly but perhaps, too quickly.

According to a psychiatrist, an adolescent who engages in more dangerous activities have white-matter pathways that seem to be more mature than those of risk-averse youths.  White-matter is the brain’s wiring, the neutral pathways that connect the various gray-matter regions of the cerebrum that are independent of one another.  Having a mature white-matter is necessary because it allows faster brain processing speed.  Nerve impulses also travel faster in mature white-matter. Experiments also reveal that the more mature the look of the brain, the more adventurous the teenager tended to be.
Another possible explanation is that some teenagers whose brains develop more rapidly than others become uncomfortable and a little confused owing to the gap between their biological capabilities and the social norms they must follow as kids. Precocious development of these neural tracts may make some adolescents more susceptible to engage in behaviors that society considers too adult in nature for their chronological age. It is also a common notion that teens make dumb decisions because their brains are immature. In other words, having a more mature brain may actually motivate some teens to try out new and potentially harmful experiences.
For now, these theories are mere speculation, and the researchers concede that the interaction of white and gray matter is so complex that hard conclusions remain elusive. The results of the study are relatively bare and by no means conclusive. The human brain is so intricate in nature, and one has to consider the fact that there are other factors that come into play such as the environment and certain genetic predispositions that are equally complex to study.

Good oral hygiene should start at the very beginning of a child’s life. Even before his or her first teeth emerge, certain factors can affect their future appearance and health. There are a number of ways to keep your kids teeth and gums healthy.

Fluoride

Fluoride is beneficial for babies even before their teeth erupt. It makes the tooth enamel stronger as the teeth are developing. In most municipal water supplies, the correct amount of fluoride is added for proper tooth development. Fluoride supplements are available if the municipal water supply does not have it, parents can also use a fluoridated toothpaste.

Brushing

Once a baby has four teeth in a row, either on top or on the bottom, parents should begin using a toothbrush two times a day. The best toothbrush for babies are made of soft polished nylon and a pea sized a mount of fluoridated toothpaste. Babies tend to swallow the toothpaste so parents should take some caution. If the baby does not like the taste of the toothpaste, water can be used. This practice should be taught to children as they get older until they can do it by themselves.

Flossing

Flossing gets to the areas that the toothbrush cannot reach. Parents do not need to initiate flossing until the child has teeth that touch each other, which normally occurs in the molar areas first. Parents should continue to floss their child’s teeth until they are six or seven years old. They should continue to monitor the child’s techniques and consistency thereafter.

Proper diet

Proper diet that consists of food that do not promote cavities such as low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese fresh fruits and vegetables for vitamins A and C, and for chewing in order to promote healthy gums and tea, which is a good source of fluoride.

Parents should also avoid giving their kids Sweet drinks, snacks and acidic drinks for prolonged periods.