Are you looking for an easier way to protect your kids from cavities? While teaching your children about dental hygiene is important, sometimes you need more help keeping your kids (and their teeth) healthy and strong. Dental sealants are one tool that can help. Here’s what you should know.
What are dental sealants?
Dental sealants are simple plastic coverings that adhere to the chewing surface of molars in the back of the mouth. Dental sealants are painted onto the teeth to protect against cavities and tooth decay.
Why are dental sealants helpful?
It is already difficult to keep the teeth at the back of the mouth clean, but since the molars have deeper grooves that the teeth near the front of the mouth, food and harmful bacteria have an easier time getting stuck in your molars. This can lead to cavities, gum disease, and more.
Dental sealants cover the chewing surface of the molars so that no food or bacteria can get stuck in these grooves. This helps your kids avoid cavities and keep their teeth clean.
What are the limits of dental sealants?
Although dental sealants offer advantages, they can only do so much. They will not protect the space in between the teeth, where many bacteria thrive and cause gingivitis and other oral health problems. Dental sealants are also not permanent, so they need to be checked on by your dentist.
This means that dental sealants are very useful, but they are only one part of keeping your teeth clean. It is still important to brush and floss every single day.
When should dental sealants be applied?
In most cases dental sealants should be applied shortly after the molars have erupted. The sooner the sealants are placed on the teeth, the less likely your child is to get a cavity.
While sealants are especially useful for protecting children’s teeth, in some cases they can also be applied to adult molars. Ask your dentist about dental sealants if you’re interested in using them yourself.
What should you expect?
The procedure to apply dental sealants is simple and painless, so it is a low-stress solution that offers significant protection. After sealants have been applied, they usually last for about 5 years, depending on patient.
If you’d like to learn more about dental sealants, schedule an appointment at New Smiles.
