Welcome to our Question and Answers Section. These questions come from teens just like you. You can ask any questions on teen health and receive personalized answers to those questions.  We will update this section every month. We hope that you will find the questions and answers helpful and informative. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section will also be featured in this section.

We will protect your anonymity; we will not post your name or address when answering questions. To submit your question or comments, e-mail wdominguez@healthplus-ny.org

Question 1:
If feel healthy, why do I need to get a checkup or physical exam every year?

Answer:
Everyone, especially teens, should receive a physical exam or check up every year to make sure they are healthy. Checkups are a good way to keep track of your health. Your doctor can check and make sure that you’re growing and developing correctly.

Doctor Visits:

• Let your doctor check to see how you’re doing.
• Help you learn about how your body is changing.
• Learn about good nutrition and eating healthy.
• Doctor will check BMI (Body Max Index) to make sure you are at healthy weight for your age, gender and height.
• Give you a chance to ask questions about your health.
• You should see your primary care provider (ex: pediatrician or internist) every year.

Also, your doctor is someone you can talk to if you feel sad or worried about something.  It’s okay to ask questions about sex, alcohol or drugs, or anything else you may be concerned about. To find out what doctors you can go to or how to change your current doctor, have your parents call our Members Services Department at 1-800-300-8181

Source: Nemours Foundation/Teen Health

Question 2:
I’m always getting cavities, what can I do?

Answer:
Cavities or tooth decay occurs when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) are frequently left on the teeth, which can lead to the destruction of your tooth enamel.  Some of foods that can damage your teeth are soda, raisins, cakes or candy.

You can help prevent tooth decay by following these tips:

• Get a dental check up twice a year (every six months). It’s an important part of maintaining good dental health.
• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean between your teeth daily with floss
• Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacking.
• Check with your dentist about use of supplemental fluoride, which strengthens your teeth, and about use of dental sealants (a plastic protective coating) applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from decay.

Source: American Dental Association

Question 3:
I’m a 17 years old girl and I was wondering, how old do I have to be to see a gynecologist?

Answer:
Most experts agree that if you are sexually active or over 18 years old you should have a gynecological (GYN) exam once a year.

You should also see a gynecologist, if you:

• Have problems with your menstruation (period) (i.e., very painful periods, no period at all)
• Have questions about your body (genitals or breast)
• Want to know about birth control to prevent pregnancy
• Want to know how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases
• Are planning to have sex and want to know about “safer sex”

A great website for you to visit is http://www.firstvisit.org/ . They can help you understand what to expect during your first GYN exam.

Source: American Osteopathic Association, Nemours Foundation/Teen Health, Scarleteen

Question 4:
Why do I get so much acne?

Answer:
During your teen years acne may be unavoidable due to all the hormonal changes that come with puberty. There are many myths about what causes acne, such as eating chocolate or drinking lots of soda, but the reality is that it is caused by overactive oil glands in the skin and an accumulation of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria.

Here are some tips you can try to prevent or reduce breakouts:

• Washing your skin helps remove excess oils and dead skin cells that can clog your pores, but washing too much can also damage your skin.
• Use skin products, such as lotions or makeup, look for ones that are noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic, which means that they don't clog pores.
• Be sure to keep your hairspray and gel away from your face.
• If you get acne on areas such as your chest or back, avoid wearing tight clothes, which can rub and cause irritation.

Source: Nemours Foundation/Teen Health