Month: August 2017

Prevention is key

But fear not! There’s another safety net to help keep those teeth clean. It’s called a sealant, and it is a thin, protective coating placed on the chewing surface of your back teeth. They’re no substitute for brushing and flossing, but they can keep cavities from forming and may even stop early stages of decay from becoming a full-blown cavity.

Sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80% in molars. This is especially important when it comes to your child’s dental health.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, “school-age children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants.”

How Do Sealants Work?

Think of them as raincoats for your teeth. When the cavity-causing bacteria that live in your mouth mix with leftover food particles, they produce acids that can create holes in teeth. These holes are cavities. After sealant has been applied it keeps those bits of food out and stops bacteria and acid from settling on your teeth.

Who Can Get Sealants?

Children and adults can benefit from sealants, but the earlier you get them, the better. Your first molars appear around age 6, and second molars break through around age 12. Sealing these teeth as soon as they come through can keep them cavity-free from the start, which helps keep them healthy longer.

How Are Sealants Applied?

It’s a quick and painless process. First, your teeth get clean and dry before placing a gel on your teeth. This gel roughens your tooth surface so a strong bond will form between your tooth and the sealant. After a few seconds, the gel is rinsed off and your tooth is dried again before applying the sealant onto the grooves of your tooth. Then, a special blue light is used to harden the sealant.

Can Sealants Be Placed Over Cavities?

Sealants can be used over areas of early decay to prevent further damage to your tooth. Because some sealants are clear, your dentist can keep an eye on the tooth to make sure the sealant is doing its job.

How Long Do Sealants Last?

Sealants will often last for several years before they need to be reapplied. During your regular dental visit, the condition of the sealant will be checked and can be ‘touched up’ as needed.

It’s never too early to start!

This helps decrease your child’s anxiety about the dentist, allows the dentist to review preventative care as well as provide optimal oral health care for your nugget. The earlier the dental visit, the better chance you have to prevent dental problems. Children with healthy teeth chew food easily, learn to speak clearly, and smile with confidence. Start your children now on a lifetime of good dental habits. Here are a few tips to get you started on the right track:

• Encourage children to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday
• Begin weaning your child off a bottle around 12 months old and make sure they do not fall asleep with a milk bottle at bedtime.

• Limit frequency of snacking, which can increase a child’s risk of developing cavities. Try to keeps meals or snack to 30 minutes.

• Water is the best medicine for your teeth. It is the next best thing to brushing your teeth during the day, so keep plenty of water bottles handy this summer!

• Parents and caregivers need to take care of their own teeth as well to prevent transmitting cavity causing bacteria to children. Don’t clean pacifiers and eating utensils with your own mouth before giving them to children, which can also transmit adult’s bacteria to children.

Make sure to call us anytime for more information or questions, but most importantly, have a fun and safe summer!