Dental Sealants & Child’s Enamel | 5 SUPER FACTS FOR MOMS

How Do Dental Sealants Work? Teeth are fascinating. We often think of them as little bones inside our mouths because they seem so hard and tough. Enamel may be the hardest substance found in the human body, but it is highly susceptible to the tiniest of attackers. We must do our part to help the enamel protect the teeth and prevent cavities. In this post, we’ll take you through what Dental Sealants are and why they can help protect teeth.

 

 

People Also Ask

1. How long do dental sealants last?
2. Are dental sealants worth it?
3. At what age are dental sealants most effective?
4. Do adults need dental sealants?

 

The Need for Sealants

Food particles are bad for teeth. The enamel of our teeth is the highly mineralized surface that acts as a protective barrier keeping the underlying dentin, cementum, and dental pulp safe from the degradation caused by acids in the mouth. Acids are produced when bacteria that we all have within our mouths encounter the food particles and sugars that coat our teeth after we eat something.

The American Dental Association is staunch on the matter. They state 80 percent of issues with permanent teeth are with the molars.

 

What’s So Special About Enamel?

Normally, our saliva helps to balance the acid and remineralize the enamel. Sometimes, though, the number of acids from what we eat is overpowering. This is why you may find your oral health provider advising you to carry a toothbrush with you to use following meals when away from home. Anything you can do to keep the acids from settling on the enamel is key to the prevention of tooth decay.

The earlier we can get into the habit of taking care of our teeth, the better off we are since decay does not occur overnight. It is a progressive effect that occurs over time. This is why children’s oral health is such a big deal. As the first line of defense, brushing and flossing are the two best approaches we can take. Another method of defending the defender, or protecting tooth enamel, is using sealants. Permanent teeth health is important in both children and adults alike and they both benefit from sealants.

 

What’s So Special About Dental Sealants?

A dental sealant is a thin, protective layer, or coating, applied to the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Made from dental materials, sealants act as a kind of shield or raincoat for the teeth. By no means are sealants intended to substitute for brushing and flossing.

However, it has been shown that sealants reduce the risk of developing cavities in molars by almost 80 percent. In fact, the CDC reported in October of 2016 that school-aged children who did not have dental sealants reportedly had three times more tooth decay than children who had sealants. Even those children only comprised less than 50 percent of kids aged 6 to 11.

Sealants can be applied to the teeth at any age, but they are most helpful the earlier you get them. This is one reason why sealants are considered such an important part of children’s health. Once a cavity appears, you effectively have a hole in the tooth, which presents a serious vulnerability. Dental decay is progressive unless you receive intervention to stop it.

It is possible to detect even the slightest decay. And sealants may be applied over these to further protect the teeth from the advancing degradation. Since sealants are clear, it is possible to monitor the progress to keep it under control. Sealants are not permanent, so it is possible to get to any issues to treat them as well as reapplying the sealant to further protect the gnashers over time.

 

What’s The Process?

The process of applying teeth sealants is quick and painless. The teeth are cleaned and dried by a dental hygienist with a curing light. before an acidic gel is applied. Funnily enough, this is to give the teeth something to bite into the sealant so it will stay on. The sealant gets into all the grooves in the molars, and then a special blue light is used to harden the surface.

 

About Oral Health?

Oral health care is typically something we learn at a very early age. That, however, is only useful if we avoid slacking off on the very necessary habits requiring daily attention. Education is ultimately the best method of keeping your teeth in their best health. It may be as basic as how many times a day one needs to brush and floss. It may be in the knowledge of what is best to eat for good levels of health.

The good habits of proper oral hygiene not only include knowing what to avoid, but they must include the following:

• Brushing and flossing at least twice a day
• Brush after meals
• Brushing before going to bed to keep bacteria from accumulating
• Keeping your bi-annual visits with your oral expert
• Eating a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Cutting back on sugary snacks and sodas that linger on the teeth

Exercising the muscle of good mouth health is one that turns into an abiding method of preventing tooth decay and catching the small issues before they can become big problems.