In addition to scheduling regular checkups with your Raleigh dentist, brushing twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste and flossing once every night, an effective way to prevent cavities is dental sealants. In most cases, they are applied to the surface of molars and premolars where oral care professionals typically spot the potential for decay.
Although there's no doubt that patients need to do their part in taking good care of their mouth and pearly whites, sometimes brushing and even flossing isn't enough to get in between the tiny spaces of teeth. The American Dental Association (ADA) reports that sealants provide a barrier by essentially "sealing out plaque and food."
Your family dentist will tell you that patients experience no pain when this barrier is applied. Using a tiny brush, the sealant is painted onto the tooth where it hardens. As long as this type of protection remains unharmed and in place, it will protect pearly whites from decay and acid that can destroy enamel.
If you already have sealants on some of your chompers, let your walk in dentist know as he or she will check the sealants to make sure that they are holding up and reapply them if necessary. However, keep in mind that these barriers are designed to last several years and typically have no problem standing up to chewing everything from an apple to a piece of steak.
The ADA advises that you speak to an affordable dental care firm about how sealants can benefit you. Because of the fact that signs of decay usually appears in childhood, little ones and adolescents are good candidates, but that doesn't mean that adults and seniors won't benefit from them as well.
