How Dental Sealants Protect Your Children's Teeth

Many parents are often frustrated when trying to teach their children proper oral care habits because kids do not typically understand why taking care of their teeth is so important. So many parents opt to have dental sealants placed on their children's teeth to protect the teeth and help them prevent cavities from forming. Read on to learn about the many benefits of dental sealants for children.

Dental sealants are a common dental product used primarily for children. However, adults can also have dental sealants applied to their teeth. When a dentist places a sealant on a tooth, he or she spreads a liquid type of plastic over the tooth. The liquid plastic fills in the grooves and pits of the tooth and then dries.

After the dentist applies the sealant and allows it to dry, it blends in with the tooth. The patient can use his or her teeth like normal, and no one will ever know the tooth has a sealant on it. Dentists do not place sealants on teeth other than molars, primarily because molar teeth tend to get cavities much faster than other teeth.

The purpose of dental sealants is to protect the teeth. Dental sealants add a layer of protection to an entire tooth, which typically helps prevent cavities from forming. If sugars and bacteria remain on a tooth that has a sealant, they might destroy the sealant, but they would not come in contact with the actual tooth structure.

Kids should typically get dental sealants when their molar teeth have fully erupted, including their baby teeth. Keeping your child's baby teeth healthy and cavity free is just as important as protecting his or her adult teeth, which is one of the main reasons dentists will encourage placing sealants on baby teeth after they fully erupt.

If properly taken care of, dental sealants can often last up to 10 years, meaning that if your child gets sealants on his or her baby teeth, the sealants will most likely last as long as the baby teeth last. After your child's baby teeth fall out, the dentist could then apply sealants to his or her permanent teeth when they fully erupt.

If you are not sure if dental sealants are worthwhile, you should realize that they do actually help prevent a lot of cavities. A cavity develops when normal bacteria in a person's mouth feed on sugars, and sugars come from many foods and drinks people - and kids - consume.

When the bacteria feed on sugars, acid forms, and the acid is what makes up a cavity. Acid eats away at the structure of a tooth. You can prevent cavities by keeping acid off of your teeth, and placing sealants on your child's teeth is one way to protect them. Sealants will keep the acids off your child's teeth, and help your child avoid cavities.

In addition to getting sealants on your child's teeth, you can help him or her prevent cavities by teaching them good brushing skills and habits. You can also help by taking your child to a dentist every six months for an examination and cleaning.

If you want your kids to have healthy teeth, your first step should be to take them to a reliable family dentist. If you would like to learn more about dental sealants and tips to help your kids care for their teeth, contact Sparks Dental. We offer services for people of all ages and can help you and your children have stronger, nicer teeth that last a lifetime.