You make sure your child brushes, flosses, and visits the dentist regularly, but what else can you do to keep their mouth healthy?
The answer is simple: Have their dentist place dental sealants in their mouth. Pediatric dental sealants protect kids’ most sensitive teeth — their molars — and help prevent cavities from developing. If you’re in Orland Park, IL, choose Treasured Smiles Pediatric Dentistry for your child.
How Do Dental Sealants Work?
Cavities are created as food particles come into contact with oral bacteria. This causes the bacteria to produce acid, which then settles on the teeth and creates holes, or cavities. Dental sealants, which consist of a thin coating placed over the teeth, prevent food particles, bacteria, and acid from settling on the teeth, thus preventing cavities from forming.
While regular brushing and flossing remove most food particles from the mouth, the back teeth, also known as molars, are notoriously difficult to reach. This makes them more susceptible to cavities. Dental sealants are placed directly over these teeth to provide them with extra protection.
When Should My Child Get Dental Sealants?
Children can get pediatric dental sealants as early as age 6, when their first molars appear. According to the Centers for Disease Control, only 43 percent of children ages 6 to 11 have dental sealants, and yet children without dental sealants are three times more likely to get cavities than those with them. For this reason, you’ll want to schedule an appointment for your child to get dental sealants as soon as their first molars break through.
A second set of molars will break through around age 12, and we recommend that your child get dental sealants placed over these as well.
Are you ready to do more to protect your child’s oral health? Talk to the team at Treasured Smiles Pediatric Dentistry about dental sealants for kids. Call 815-806-1600 today to schedule an appointment in the Orland Park, IL, area.