While you more than likely have been taught that brushing and flossing are the number one ways for you to combat cavities, you may not have heard how important sealants can be as well. Your teeth have a lot of crevices and other very hard-to-reach areas in them where plaque can hide from the bristles of your toothbrush and from dental floss. Those hidden areas may be where you first start to surprisingly develop cavities. The molars are the ones that tend to have the most hiding places for plaque and other bacteria. Sealants can play an important role in protecting your teeth from getting cavities in this manner. For more information on sealants, you can review this article.

What exactly are sealants?

Sealants are thin protective coatings that are put on your teeth in the areas that are most at risk of cavities due to their shapes. Sealant is made from a special type of plastic or other similar dental materials. The sealants are applied to your teeth by your dentist, who will use specific dental tools to put them on your teeth one by one. Once a sealant is applied to your tooth, it will adhere to the tooth and remain in place until it has naturally worn off. The sealant is made to stay on for at least a few years, but harsh brushing and eating certain foods can help it to come off of your teeth faster. This means you will have to go back into the dentist sooner to have more put on.

How do the sealants work to prevent cavities?

When the sealants are applied to your teeth, they will fill in the cracks and crevices most at risk. They add an extra barrier the plaque would need to get through in order to begin forming a cavity. Tiny particles of food will also be prevented from taking refuge in the hiding spots to also avoid the start of cavities. Another thing that the sealant protects you against is more acid eating away at the surfaces of your teeth, creating those holes known as cavities.

Who is a good candidate for getting sealants?

Both children and adults can go to their dentist and have sealants put on their teeth. In fact, it is a good idea for sealants to be put on young children's teeth since they tend to be a bit neglectful when it comes to staying on top of their dental hygiene and are known for eating more of the types of foods known to cause cavities. Since sealants can prevent your child from needing avoidable dental work, they can probably be talked into having sealants put on their teeth with little effort, making it easy to get them in the dental chair.

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