Benefits of Dental Sealants for Your Child

Benefits of Dental Sealants for Your Child

November 15, 2020

Parents want their children to have the healthiest teeth possible, especially as baby teeth are lost and permanent ones come in. Even if parents assist their children with brushing and flossing at home, it’s often not enough to prevent tooth decay. Your child’s dentist also wants them to have the healthiest teeth possible, which is why they may recommend dental sealants.

WHAT ARE SEALANTS?

Sealants are a part of preventive dentistry and are designed to protect molars from tooth decay. Dentists apply a protective coating to back teeth, which helps keeps cavities from forming. Sealants work by guarding the surfaces of teeth against the following:

  • Bacteria
  • Acid
  • Tartar
  • Plaque
  • Other forms of decay

Sealants are especially important for children’s dental health since they may be less thorough than adults at brushing and flossing on their own.

SEALANT PROTECTION AND PREVENTION

Dental sealants provide protection from tooth decay and help prevent future oral health issues in children. Due to their placement in the back of the mouth and crevices, molars often retain food and other particles. When this remaining food breaks down, the surface of molars begins to decay and potentially form cavities. Molars can be difficult for children to thoroughly clean with just brushing.

Sealants cover the surface of molars as a protective measure to prevent and reduce the formation of cavities. Your child’s dentist will apply a sealant coating to the grooves of molars using a professional instrument. This ensures that the coating hardens, adheres, and seals these back teeth.

LONG-TERM ORAL HEALTH

Parents and their children need to be aware that, even with sealants, excellent at-home habits such as regular brushing and flossing are key to keeping teeth and gums healthy. Dental sealants can provide added protection against material that causes tooth decay, but they don’t replace good oral hygiene.

For parents, dental sealants are an investment in the long-term oral health of children. This preventive procedure can save time, money, and stress by limiting the risk of cavities and fillings. In some cases, sealants can be reapplied if necessary or applied over tooth surfaces that show signs of early decay. This prevents further damage to teeth.

Overall, sealants benefit parents and their children by preventing tooth decay, maintaining long-term oral health, and avoiding serious dental problems and treatments in the future. Contact your dental care team for more information about getting dental sealants for your child.

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