Can you believe that by age 19 a staggering 70 percent of American children will have been affected by tooth decay? It’s such a scary thought; think of all of those dental filling appointments. Untreated tooth decay can be so painful and can result in a life-long, potentially hazardous, oral care problems. As parents, though, there is a way to protect your child’s teeth: dental sealants.
The Importance of Baby Teeth
Some parents might fall into the false thinking that they don’t need to schedule their children for their regular appointments because they figure their baby teeth are going to fall out anyway. However, developing cavities at a young age can lead to a life of oral health problems.
When to Start Scheduling Appointments
As soon as your child begins to develop their teeth, you have the green light to begin scheduling appointments, around the age of 1. By then a dentist can keep an eye on your child’s health, and it will be easier for your child to develop a meaningful relationship with their dentist, keeping them from developing dental phobia later on in life.
A Look at Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are incredibly easy to apply, making them a simple yet effective treatment. Sealants are essentially plastic strips applied to the groove of your child’s teeth to cover up the nooks and crannies of their mouth. This makes it a lot harder for food particles to get lost in their teeth making them more prone to tooth decay.
Does My Child Need Sealants?
Be sure to have a meaningful conversation with your child’s dentist to see if your child is the right candidate for dental sealants.
At Bella Smiles of Sugar Land, TX, we want to keep you and your family safe from tooth decay. Regular visits to our office will keep your child’s teeth healthy and radiant. In addition to treatment, we strive to keep you and your child educated to have a life of positive oral health. Give us a call today to make your very first appointment!
