We want to help kids avoid cavities, and to do so we can offer preventive treatments. In fact, with one option we could safeguard the teeth for up to ten years! In today’s blog, your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist talks about lowering the risk of cavities for years to come with dental sealants.
The Causes of Tooth Decay
Cavities can impact children of all ages. When babies fall asleep with milk and parents don’t clean their teeth, the risk of baby bottle tooth decay increases. The same goes for toddlers who nap with milk or juice. As children grow older, a diet high in sugar combined with poor brushing and flossing habits could be a recipe for tooth decay as well. Without treatment, this could cause painful symptoms and lead to infections that threaten tooth stability. But our team wants to help lower the risk of cavities, and to do so for years at a time we could place dental sealants.
Prevention with Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are a special layer of acrylic that we placed onto the rear teeth. These molars are often hard for kids to reach when they brush and floss, so food and drink particles can remain trapped between them for bacteria to break down, a process that weakens enamel and creates cavities. But our team can apply the material to these teeth in seconds, which prevents any particles from being trapped between the teeth. Applying them only takes a few seconds. Kids then need to avoid food and drink for about a half as the material fully cures. The sealants can stay in place for up to ten years in some cases, wearing away gradually with time. We can add more as needed down the road!
Fluoride Treatments
Along with dental sealants, our team could also offer fluoride treatments during the checkup and cleaning portion of the visit, so that our team can strengthen the outer enamel to keep it strong and lower the risk of a cavity. For this reason, we also recommend kids use a fluoride toothpaste when they brush and floss. Kids under the age of three should use only a rice-sized amount, while kids over the age of three need a pea-sized amount.
If you have any questions about how our team will treat tooth decay and keep smiles strong, or if you would like to schedule your child’s next visit, then contact our team today to learn more and get started.
Keeping Cavities Away in Shirley, NY
Kids don’t have to develop a painful cavity, we can offer preventive treatment options. To find out more about us, call Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY at 631.399.1600 today.
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