Safe And Simple Cavity Prevention With Sealants

Posted January 31, 2022

When your child has a cavity, this could cause discomfort and eventually threaten the stability of the tooth. While we can treat them with lifelike composite resin fillings, we would love to help your kid avoid them entirely. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about the benefits of placing dental sealants.

The Factors Behind Cavities

Kids can develop tooth decay from the moment the first baby tooth arrives. In fact, baby bottle tooth decay often develops when children fall asleep with bottles or sippy cups of milk or juice, combined with lack of daily cleaning. When children don’t care for their smiles, this allows particles from their foods and drinks to stay stuck on or between the teeth. Bacteria will consume these particles, and in the process, coat the teeth in plaque buildup. In turn, plaque begins to weaken outer enamel and lead to cavities. Children then develop tooth sensitivity and toothaches, and misalignment could develop as baby teeth are lost prematurely due to advanced decay.

Placing Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are a safe and noninvasive treatment to help prevent cavities in little smiles. Kids often have trouble reaching the rear teeth when they brush and floss, so these become the areas prone to cavities. However, with dental sealants we dry the teeth and apply a special acrylic layer. The layer cures quickly, and now prevents food particles from becoming stuck on or between the teeth. The layer will stay in place for years to come, between 5 And 10 on average. They wear away gradually with time, and tend to cling to the areas more vulnerable to decay as they gradually disappear.

Fluoride and Good Oral Health Habits

Along with sealants, we could also provide a fluoride gel to the teeth during each checkup visit, as fluoride has been shown to naturally strengthen the outer enamel and reduce the risk of cavities. You can also help your child by limiting their consumption of sugary and starchy foods, or drinks high in sugars and acids, depriving harmful bacteria of a meal and limiting the risk of cavities. Kids should brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, and also floss every evening. You can assist your younger children and monitor your older ones. If you have any questions about how to protect children from tooth decay, or if you would like to schedule a visit for a checkup and cleaning soon, then contact our team today.

Talk to Your Dallas, TX, Pediatric Dentist Today!

When possible, we want to help kids of all ages in our community avoid the onset of tooth decay. Set up an appointment with us by contacting your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.