3 Tips To Prevent Your Child's Dental Sealants From Chipping Prematurely

Dental sealants are a thin film that is used to coat the pits and fissures on your teeth. These areas are more susceptible to cavities because food can easily get stuck in these grooves. The film is not typically applied to smooth surfaces on your teeth. Dental sealants are ideal for children because they help to protect your child's teeth from tooth decay at a young age. However, dental sealants do not last forever. They need to be taken care of in order to prevent premature chipping and breaking. Luckily, there are a few tips that you can use to prevent your child's dental sealant from chipping.

Limit Hard Foods

Dental sealants are composed of plastic. As a result, they will eventually wear down with use. However, eating hard foods can speed up this process. Eating things like hard candy or ice will tear the sealant. A sealant that tears can easily lead to tooth decay. The small opening allows food and other bacteria to get trapped beneath the plastic film. It is difficult to remove this food and bacteria once it becomes trapped behind the sealant.

Avoid Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding can slowly erode your teeth as well as the sealants that are there to protect them. The friction between your bottom and top teeth grinding against each other will chip away at the sealant. Teeth grinding is difficult to catch because it often happens while the person is sleeping. Therefore, a person may be grinding their teeth for months and they would not even notice it. A common sign of teeth grinding includes a stiff or sore jaw. If your child complains of jaw pain, then they may be grinding their teeth at night. If your child grinds their teeth, you can give them lavender and chamomile tea in order to calm and relax their body before bed.

Use a Soft Bristled Brush

A hard bristled brush is often used in cases with severe plaque and bacteria. These brushes can often scrap away at the enamel. Therefore, they should not be used to brush teeth that have dental sealants. They will cause the sealant to tear, chip and break. Instead, you should make sure that your child uses a soft bristled brush to clean their teeth. A soft bristled brush will remove any food and bacteria while keeping the dental sealant intact.

Dental sealants can protect your child's teeth from future decay if they are taken care of properly. Therefore, use these tips to protect your child's sealants from chipping prematurely. For more information about caring for your child's teeth, talk with a representative from a dental office such as Kids Dental Tree

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