For many years, dental professionals have used
fluoride treatments and sealants to keep cavities in at bay for younger patients. Both solutions are essential to their child’s routine dental care and the preservation of their smile.
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral that can be found in drinking water, as well as many foods. The amount of fluoride your smile receives varies on a daily basis and is impacted by biological processes known as demineralization and remineralization. Too much demineralization leads to tooth decay, which is where dental fluoride comes into play. For kids under the age of 6, fluoride treatments play a critical role in reversing early dental decay and helping the smile develop and mature properly.
Because it’s important to provide a healthy amount of fluoride in your child’s hygiene, many dental hygiene products meant for children do not contain the amount that adult products contain. This makes regular dental visits that much more important for your little one, as exposure to fluoride at the onset of developing adult teeth is important. A pediatric dentist is well versed in the appropriate level of fluoride for little ones and will safely introduce this treatment to benefit your child.
What is a Sealant?
Sealants are used as part of your child’s comprehensive pediatric dental care plan. Applied as a thin film directly on enamel surfaces, sealants serve as barriers to food particles and bacteria that can eventually cause cavities. Most often, sealants are introduced to protect grooved areas that are difficult for children to brush and keep clean.
Sealants typically last around 10 years, but your trusted dental professional will check for cracks and fissures during routine dental appointments to ensure the continued integrity of the material. These resin-based sealants have shown to
decrease the occurrence of cavities in protected teeth.
Schedule Your Child’s Next Appointment!
Both fluoride and sealants can help your child reduce the frequency they experience cavities and help them achieve better oral health. If you want to learn more about the steps you can take towards aiding your child’s dental care, contact Dr. John Gowey at Pleasanton Dental for family dental care today!