When it comes to children it is sometimes hard to keep a trace on what they are eating or how well they clean their own teeth, but there is a way to protect your children’s teeth from the issues of tooth decay that could arise from such issues.

Looking after your children’s teeth

The best way to ensure that your children’s teeth aren’t affect is through the use of fissure sealants, which is a white fluoride enriched coating that is applied to the biting surface on the back of the teeth. These are recommended for children, as the surfaces located on the backs of the teeth are not smooth and flat, but instead are crisscrossed with small pits and fissures. If these aren’t protected then deep occlusal fissures can occur, which means food remnants can get lodged within the backs of the teeth and can’t be addressed by the use of a toothbrush. This then causes bacteria to multiply and produce acid, which then attack your children’s teeth resulting in issues such as cavities and tooth decay.

Sealants for children

However the fissure sealants can prevent issues like this happening as the top surfaces on the backs of the teeth are sealed off with a special varnish, which can reduce the risk of decay by six times compared to teeth without fissure sealants.

To ensure the sealants work the dentist will first render the backs of the teeth completely dry so that the thin composite material can be applied and then hardened with a special UV lamp, thus rendering the teeth protected.

It is wise to have the fissure sealant administered on your children’s teeth around 15-18 months after the teeth erupt in the oral cavity, and should then be checked at least twice a year and usually changed one every four years. Contact Dublin18 Dental Care near Stillorgan for more information.