Like most healthy lifetime habits, good oral hygiene practices - the kind that will help to ensure that a person maintains healthy teeth and gums well into old age - usually begin in childhood. But even with routine brushing and regular dental check-ups, children can be especially susceptible to cavities and tooth decay, with sugary snacks and drinks the most common culprits. However, even the healthiest diets can still leave a child vulnerable to tooth decay, particularly in the rear teeth, where a toothbrush alone may not be effective in clearing away stray food particles and bacteria.

Children's teeth tend to strengthen and become more resistant to decay as they get older, but usually require extra care in the early years to ensure that they are properly cleaned of bacteria and the resulting plaque, as well as receiving essential nutrients like fluoride to promote strong, healthy teeth and gums into adulthood.

Protecting Children's Teeth from Decay with Dental Sealants

Even with the best brushing and flossing technique, it can be difficult for children to reach and properly clean their teeth. While the importance of getting rid of food and bacteria between the teeth is a well-known concept, the teeth are also made up of uneven, jagged surfaces known as pits and fissures. As a tooth brush passes over the teeth in a uniform swooping motion, it can be easy to miss not only the hard to reach spaces in between teeth but portions of the surface of the tooth as well. Dental sealants can help to even out the surface of each tooth to make it easier for children to adequately brush their teeth every day and prevent decay.

Dental Sealants for Children

Dental sealants are tooth colored coatings made of plastic resin that even out the surfaces of the teeth, making them less vulnerable to decay, like a "pre-filling" that seals the tooth off from a cavity before it has a chance to form. In addition to cavity prevention, sealants can protect your child from more involved and painful dental work in the future, in turn saving your family time and money as well.

Family Dentist in Cedar Park, TX

To learn more about the benefits of dental sealants and protecting your children's teeth from decay, contact Dr. Jason W. Dyson of Parmer Oaks Dental Care at (512) 528-8900 to schedule an appointment today!