6 Ways to Make the Most of Your Teen's Visits to the Doctor

"[Teens and tweens are] anxious," Chung said. "Start early. Make it a foregone conclusion that every single year, you're going to pay a visit to the doctor. The onus is on the healthcare professional to develop a rapport and build that trust over time."

If your kids are still young and you're not happy with your current pediatrician, now's the time to make a change. If you wait until they're adolescents, they won't feel comfortable with a new doctor, and are likely to be in and out of the office without saying much. "Stick with the same doctor year after year to diffuse stress around adolescence," Chung recommended.

The appropriate age to make the switch from a pediatrician to an adult practitioner varies from child to child. "While 18 is often thought to be a reasonable age, sometimes it doesn't happen until after college, and that's OK too," said Chung.

It's important that you don't just transition away from a doctor who you feel your child's outgrown, but also that you make a move to someone who's qualified, a good fit for your family, and that they're comfortable with.

An annual exam is the "foundation of a teen's health care," said Chung. One third of all teens in the US go through life without these checkups, and they're missing out on three very important things. First, it's an opportunity for any and all topics pertaining to your child's mental and physical health to be talked about. Secondly, a comprehensive physical exam will ensure that they're developmentally on track, and finally, it's a great chance to ensure that your teen's vaccinations are up to date.

"When teens are struggling with their emotions, their physical health is compromised as well," Chung told us. It's standard procedure for a healthcare provider to offer some time for conversation about your child's well-being — being closed doors. "What you can do as a parent is reaffirm that whatever they say will be kept confidential. It works in favor of you and your teen."

"Starting early is something that needs to be emphasized," Chung said. "Make health a common topic in the home from early on."

Role modeling is crucial, so let your kids know that you don't just understand what a healthy lifestyle is — you believe in it and put it into action in your own home.

"When a parent does the things they're asking the teen to do, it paves the road, setting behaviors that will likely continue well into adulthood," he added.