A Useful Tool In The Fight Against Tooth Decay
Children love to be independent. If you are a parent, we are sure that you are nodding your head in agreement. Even if you are not a parent, you have most likely experienced a headstrong child who has been determined to try something on their own. Children seem to express a desire to be independent when dealing with their oral care such as brushing their own teeth. While this sounds like a great idea in theory, it is important that children brush their teeth properly. Many young children have a tendency to brush the front of their teeth or suck on the toothbrush, totally ignoring the rear teeth. Over time, this can lead to decay and cavities in the rear molars. You might be wondering what can be done to help prevent this. Continue reading to learn about a common treatment that can help eliminate pesky decay from developing in the back molars.
What Are Dental Sealants?
When thinking about oral health in children, it is important to be mindful of areas in the mouth that may be neglected during daily brushing and those that are used frequently. The back molars are used most often as the primary chewing surface. When feeling and looking at rear molars, you will notice that they are not smooth and have multiple grooves and pits. Food can become trapped in these areas and be difficult to clean during brushing. Bacteria that remain in these grooves can turn into cavities.
Luckily, we offer and recommend dental sealants to help protect the rear molars. A dental sealant is a thin coating that is brushed on the teeth to protect against decay. The sealant smooths the surface of the tooth, making it difficult for food and other particles to become trapped.
Who Can Benefit From Dental Sealants?
We always recommend dental sealants for children as soon as their permanent molars emerge and fully grow in. Many adults think sealants are only for children; however, it is not uncommon for adults to get sealants for their rear molars as well.
If you would like more information about dental sealants or are interested in scheduling an appointment for your loved one, please call our Terre Haute, IN office today to schedule an appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon!
