Dental sealants are an excellent way to safe guard your children’s teeth from the damaging effects of plaque erosion. What they amount to are plastic coatings on the teeth at the rear of the mouth. They then form a barrier against plaque so that it cannot settle on the teeth and cause the enamel to be eroded and cavities to form in them.

Central London dentists usually apply dental sealants at about the age of six which is when the permanent molars erupt in the mouth. Dental sealants can be reapplied again when the child is aged twelve or so and the second molars have come through. They are affordable and dentists will tell you that they can be applied in a simple process that is not uncomfortable for the child.

Other things you can do to help protect your children’s teeth include incentivising their brushing. This might mean giving them treats when they have brushed successfully. This is important because it establishes a routine that they will hopefully maintain for the rest of their lives. Be sure to monitor the brushing of your children to check that they are not doing so too aggressively and are covering all areas of their mouth.

One way of helping children to stay free from these problems is for their dentist to apply dental sealants to their teeth. This basically consists of a plastic coating that is applied to the surface of teeth. It acts as an extra barrier protecting them from plaque and as a useful supplement to the enamel which exists on all healthy teeth.

The ages of six and twelve can be good times to have your dentist apply sealant to your child’s teeth. This is because of the developments in the mouth at those ages which facilitate the application of dental sealant. At six the permanent molars usually erupt and around the age of twelve the second molars do the same.

Dental sealants are an affordable way to help with the protection of your child’s teeth and they last for a good few years before they need topping up. This is very much worth doing because of how vulnerable children can be to tooth decay. Of course you should still ensure that they are brushing properly but anyone who has been a parent will know how difficult this can be. The propensity that children have for sweet snacks can also put their teeth at risk and so dental sealants are worth asking your Central London dentist about.

Dental sealants are increasingly being used for children to prevent early decay as their teeth are still developing and not as strong as they will be in their adult years. Although sealants are not needed for teeth that have already been filled. Children should ideally have dental sealants applied to permanent molars as soon as they erupt in the dental arc. This is usually between the ages of six and twelve.

Sealants are applied after a gentle acid has been applied to make the surface of the teeth etched and rough for added grip. Once dried, the Central London dentist will apply the liquid sealant into the grooves of the teeth before setting it hard with the high intensity heat of a laser. Sealants are safe and painless, and best of all for kids, require no drilling.

Sealants can last up to ten years but the average lifespan is probably more likely in the area of two or three. They are highly effective tools against dental decay and can be reapplied by a dentist if it has started to wear off.