Children have primary teeth, which fall out and get replaced by permanent versions when they grow up. Your kid’s first teeth might not stick around forever; however, protecting them from cavities maintains overall health and keeps the mouth in shape for the teeth that erupt later in life. If you want to let your kid enjoy sugary treats safely, asking their dentist in Whittier, NC, for pediatric sealants is a good call.
This protection against cavities isn’t indestructible, so you have to teach your kid about detrimental habits like overeating candy, nail-biting, or ice-chewing to make sealants last.
How Long Do Pediatric Sealants Last?
Pediatric sealants are thin coatings dentists apply to your kid’s molars. These teeth are located at the back of the mouth and are the ones you use the most when you chew. Since molars come into contact with food more than the rest of your teeth, they have a greater chance of getting cavities and giving your child severe dental problems. Pediatric sealants offer a two-to-four year protection against bacteria and acidic substances, blocking any germs responsible for decay and gum disease.
This protective shield can last up to five years, but dental professionals recommend re-applying them every two years for more effective protection.
For sealants to do a better job at protecting your child’s molars, you can help your kids stay away from certain foods or objects that can shorten the lifespan of this dentistry procedure.
Teach Your Kid to Avoid These Habits After Getting Pediatric Sealants
Nail Biting
Biting your nails is a habit that usually develops during childhood as a physical response to anxiety or nervousness. Not only does this practice damage your stomach and gives your hands an unpleasant look, but it can also erode pediatric sealants. When you bite your nails, your teeth need to make a greater effort to chop them off, forcing your upper and lower teeth against each other and damaging tooth layers.
Help your kid lose this habit by offering them healthy treats and explaining the consequences nail-biting has on their oral health.
Ice Chewing
Chewing ice to battle the heat during the summer sounds fun, but it’s not a good match for your child’s pediatric sealants. Ice might look like harmless frozen water, but your teeth need to do extra work to break it into smaller pieces. This process can damage gums, scratch and chip your teeth, and slowly remove the sealants protecting molars.
Next summer, try drinking icy water with a straw to get the same effects while keeping your kid’s smile and sealants safe.
Eating Too Much Candy
A joyful childhood comes with overindulging in sweet treats, but you need to help your child control the number they eat daily to protect pediatric sealants. Delicious hard candy is too difficult to break, increasing your kid’s chances of cracking teeth and removing protective coats. If you want sealants to last up to four years, teach your child to stick to softer candy and to suck on hard treats instead of chewing them.
Always remind your kids to brush after eating sweets and to do so at least twice a day for two minutes to keep their smiles clean and cavity-free.
Are You Looking for Pediatric Sealants in Whittier, NC?
Pediatric sealants are an extra line of defense against cavities, and they can last up to four years if your kid avoids nail-biting, ice-chewing, and too much candy. Our team offers dental services to protect the health of your child while educating about oral health. Contact us today to schedule a visit!
