Dental sealants are one of the many methods a dentist has to help boost your child's oral health. They're commonly used on both milk teeth and adult teeth for children and can lend a helping hand in keeping your child's oral health in good shape. Here are three ways your child can potentially benefit from getting dental sealants.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is one of the leading reasons for giving a child dental sealants. The sealants put a layer of protection between your child's teeth and everything else in their mouth. This helps to ensure that bacteria and plaque can't break down your child's teeth and cause cavities.
Although it's best to encourage your child to do the best they can with their oral hygiene, many children experience cavities. Getting sealants applied is one way to help keep this from happening and to prevent your child from going through the experience of having their teeth drilled.
Braces White Spots
Many people—adults and children alike—experience white spots on their teeth after having braces. If you're interested in your child getting braces at some point, dental sealants can prevent white spots.
White spots are actually signs of damage to the teeth. Plaque can build up on the edges of braces brackets, leaving behind a white mark on the teeth. Think of it as a sort of pre-cavity. While these white spots don't pose any significant threat to your child's oral health, they can be displeasing to the eye.
Dental sealants help to protect the teeth from built-up plaque, which will decrease the risk of your child experiencing white spots after their braces come off.
Compensate for Weakened Enamel
Finally, dental sealants can help to protect your child's milk teeth if they've already experienced weakened enamel.
Children can have weakened enamel for a variety of reasons. Excessive exposure to acid in food and drinks—like juice—can cause this problem, especially if your child enjoys juice at school or while they're away from home and can't brush. Brushing too hard can also weaken enamel. In any case, when enamel becomes thinner or softer, it doesn't do as good a job protecting the inner structures of your child's teeth.
Since dental sealants act like an extra layer of enamel, they can keep your child's baby teeth intact until they're ready to fall out naturally. This will help their adult teeth to come in safely and will prevent pain from developing in the teeth as the enamel wears down.
Dental sealants are a non-invasive, quick, and easy procedure for your child to undergo. The results can protect your child's teeth for years to come, no matter how young or old they are. Talk to a family dental care office if you're ready to get dental sealants for your child.
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