Every child should be taught to properly brush their teeth twice a day and floss before bed. It is one of the important duties of being a parent. Sadly, children are stubborn and do not listen easily. It is also not easy for them to form good habits. This is where dental sealants come in. Dental sealants provide an additional layer of protection to fight against tooth-decaying bacteria.
Naturally, you may be skeptical regarding sealants being safe for children. Do not worry, as pediatric dentists often recommend this solution. One treatment lasts up to 4 years and reduces the chances of cavities by 80%. Visit a kids dentist in Bristol and Windsor, CT pediatric dentist for children today.
How safe are dental sealants?
Dental sealants are a plastic-like coating over your teeth, which creates a barrier between the surface of the teeth and the external environment. Thus, it protects your child’s teeth from tooth decay. The plastic-like coating contains a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA), which is known to cause health problems. This is why many parents worry whether it is the right dental choice for their small kids.
Do not worry because the amount of BPA in dental sealants is very low. It is unlikely that your child will suffer from any kind of harm because of it. Both the United States FDA and the American Dental Association have conducted studies and found dental sealants completely safe for people of all ages.
The only way your child may get harmed by dental sealants is if they have a specific allergy to plastic materials. Your dentist will make sure your child does not have any allergies before suggesting a treatment method.
At what age should children get them?
Dentists recommend dental sealants for children between the ages of 6 and 12 because that is when their molars start appearing. Since molars have the biggest chance of decay, it is important to seal them as soon as they emerge. Both sets of molars in a child should appear by the time they reach 12 years of age.
Do children even need dental sealants?
Children need protection for their teeth more than adults. Children tend to put harmful things in their mouths, chew hard objects, not brush their teeth properly, and eat a lot of candies and chocolates. These are the major reasons why dental sealants can be beneficial for them.
Children are stubborn, and it is not always possible to stop them from eating the snacks they like. Sealants will especially prevent cavities from developing within the grooves of their teeth.
