Dental Sealants Help Control Cavity Risk
Children often have limited dexterity as they learn to brush and floss, which can impact their ability to reach the rear teeth and clean their teeth. For many, this is a recipe for tooth decay. To help prevent food particles from being trapped in the back of the mouth, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist could offer dental sealants!
The Difficulty in Preventing Cavities
Children are at an especially high risk of developing tooth decay. For example, babies and toddlers often cannot brush and floss on their own and will depend on you to do so. Baby bottle tooth decay, or cavities in very young ages, can often occur due to improper cleaning and falling asleep with a bottle or sippy cup of milk or juice. As kids get older, they can start to brush and floss on their own, but could still have trouble properly reaching the rear teeth. This limited dexterity means particles become trapped between the teeth, left for harmful oral bacteria to breakdown, causing cavities, bad breath, and even teeth stains. Warning signs then develop, such as tooth sensitivity and toothaches.
Placing Dental Sealants
We offer dental sealants to address the issue of kids being unable to properly clean the molars in the back of their mouth. Dental sealants are made from acrylic and we coat these vulnerable teeth in them. The sealants are then cured and stay in place for up to ten years in some cases. They wear away gradually, and remain the longest in the deepest portions or the tooth structure, which are the most vulnerable to cavities. Placement only takes a few minutes, and helps safeguard smiles for years to come.
What About Fluoride?
Fluoride is also a great way to lower the risk of tooth decay in little smiles. This is a naturally occurring mineral, one that has been shown to help strengthen the outer enamel to make tooth decay less likely. You can find this in toothpaste, which benefits kids of all ages (three and younger use a rice-sized amount, kids over three use a pea-sized amount). We can also apply this in a gel form during six-month checkup and cleaning visits, helping the teeth stay stronger. You can also make sure your little ones brush and floss properly in between these visits!
If you have any questions about preventing cavities, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help little smiles stay strong and cavity-free!
Your Dallas, TX, Pediatric Dentist Offers Dental Sealants
If you want to protect your little one from poor oral health, schedule a visit soon. If you would like to learn more about our approach to children’s dentistry, then contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Children's Dental Services