When you instill the value of good oral health to your children at a young age, it can benefit them through adulthood. Because children are still learning how to properly care for their teeth, it can be advantageous to offer treatments that further protect them from decay. During your child’s visit to the dentist, fluoride and dental sealants can offer added defense against tooth decay. These treatments, along with good dental health habits at home, can lower their risk for developing cavities.
Benefits Of Fluoride
Fluoride treatments can help protect your child’s teeth from tooth decay by strengthening their enamel. Fluoride can promote restoration of enamel that has been eroded, before it reaches a level of decay that requires a restorative treatment. This can help stop a cavity from forming.
Benefits Of Dental Sealants
Your dentist can place dental sealants over your child’s teeth, typically over their molars and premolars. Sealants can block food debris and plaque from accumulating on their teeth. This is especially helpful in keeping hard-to-clean areas like the space between tooth cusps and areas between teeth free of problems. By sealing off these less accessible areas, it can make preventive care easier to manage for your child.
The Link Between Routine Care And Cavity Prevention
One major advantage of scheduling regular dental visits for your child is that it gives your dentist the chance to spot and treat problems before they cause your child discomfort. This can lower the possibility that they will have to undergo a more involved restorative treatment, like a root canal. If your child does have a cavity, and your dentist can detect it at its early stages (before it causes unpleasant symptoms), it can be treated with a filling.