The best way to stop getting cavities is by brushing and
flossing regularly. To be more direct it
is recommended to brush at least twice a day and floss once a day. This will reduce the amount of plaque on your
teeth and reduce the rate of decay. This
has always been and always will be the best way to have a healthy mouth and
smile. Over time and by doing research
other methods have been found to increase the strength and protect our teeth
from bacteria and decay. There are
other ways to do this but I wanted to mention three main ones here. The first is what Dr. Dave mentioned in his
last post. Having regular fluoride
treatments to build up and strengthen the enamel. This makes your teeth more cavity
resistant. The second is eating less
food with simple sugars, like candy, sweets, sports drinks, etc. Even if your teeth are strong, if there is
more sugar in and around your teeth, you will get more cavities. If you take away the food for the bacteria
there won't be as many bacteria to eat your teeth. The third way is what I wanted to talk about,
Sealants.
Tooth Anatomy
80-90% of Cavities on kids ages 6-19 are on the top, or the
occlusal surface of the teeth. This is
because of the deep valleys or the grooves that make up this portion of the
tooth. Brushing your teeth is vital for
its health, but these grooves are so deep and narrow that the bristles are too
wide to get to the bottom of these grooves.
It is like trying to clean your toilet with a gym floor dust broom. There is no way to get down to the deepest
points and clean out the gunk.
What is a sealant?
To protect these grooves, that are not cleanable, a filling
like material is bonded into them. This
is what a sealant is. It has been shown
to reduce cavities up to 90%, if regular appointments are kept including
maintenance of the sealant.
Procedure
Sealants do not require a shot and can be done in less than
5 minutes. The top portion of the tooth,
including the grooves are cleaned. The
grooves are then conditioned with a blue gel, called an etch. The sealant material is then placed in the
grooves and cured, or hardened, with UV light.
This simple procedure can literally save your teeth.
Conclusion
Used in combination with regular fluoride therapy, your
teeth will be protected and strengthened.
I invite you to learn more. If
you and especially your children have not had sealants placed, come in and ask
us about our sealants. We want to save
your teeth!
Dr. Mark T. Barry, DDS
