In sports, it’s often been said that defense wins championships. The idea being that if the other team can’t score, then they will have a hard time defeating your team.
If you think of your mouth as an arena, there is a contest taking place there every day.
Your team includes your toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss. The other team includes bacteria, plaque, and tartar.
The other team is trying to score by causing you oral health problems, like tooth decay and gum disease.
Westwood Dental Smiles is here to be your sixth man. However, we are friends with a free agent who can improve your defense like a shot-blocking center.
This free agent is dental sealants, and you can sign them at our California dental practice.
Worth The Price
Professional athletes often go into free agency claiming they are looking for a chance to win a championship. Many fans suspect that’s not entirely the case, especially when we see the reports about the huge salaries included in their contracts.
Dental sealants are different than other free agents. They want to save you in two ways.
First, they want to save your teeth, and second, they want to save you the expense of getting fillings or dental crowns as a result of cavities.
What Are Sealants And What Do They Do?
Dental sealants are a coating that we can apply to premolars and molars. These are the teeth furthest back in your mouth. They also are the teeth most likely to develop cavities.
At our office, we recommend that children (between 6 and 14) get sealants, in part, because we’ve been told that children don’t always eat as healthy as they should.
Your premolars and molars are the teeth that we use to chew our food. As a result, these teeth are in contact with your food — and the sugars in your food — longer than your other teeth.
Coincidentally, the bacteria that cause cavities thrive on the sugars in your food.
If you look at your molars in a mirror, you will see that they have small crevices. This can make them more difficult to clean than your front teeth, even if you are brushing twice a day like the American Dental Association recommends.
Dental sealants can be applied to the chewing surface of your children’s molars and premolars. This creates an additional barrier for bacteria to get through before they can attack your kids’ teeth.
Sealants won’t interfere with the function of your children’s teeth in any way.
Can Adults Get Sealants?
Certainly, you can.
While sealants are often recommended for children, adults can receive the same benefits. For many patients, sealants are a worthwhile investment.
If you can spend a little money now to reduce your risk of needing a filling, a crown, or even a root canal sometime down the road, then that is money well spent.
The Rest Of The Team
Keep in mind that dental sealants are only part of your team. Having sealants alone is not going to prevent you or your children from developing cavities.
You still need to have a solid oral hygiene routine that includes:
◆ Brushing Your Teeth
The ADA recommends brushing twice a day for two minutes each time. You should use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a fluoride toothpaste.
As a quick note, you don’t have to use as much toothpaste as the people in commercials do. You only need a pea-sized drop to clean your whole mouth. Just be sure to scrub your teeth on all sides.
◆ Flossing Your Teeth
Your toothbrush and toothpaste make a great combo, like a strong backcourt, but they can’t be expected to do everything on their own.
Dental floss is like a scrappy forward who grabs rebounds and tracks down loose balls. You can use any kind of floss (waxed or unwaxed, flavored or flavorless, and any thickness) just as long as you use it daily. Floss can clean between your teeth and under your gumline, which are the places that your toothbrush can’t reach.
◆ Cleanings At The Dentist Office
Even the best players need a break from time to time. This is where our team can take over.
As long as you visit us for routine cleanings and examinations, we can remove the plaque and tartar that you may have missed. We’ll also watch for signs of gum disease and cavities.
If you get dental sealants, we will monitor their condition, too, to make sure you are getting the maximum benefit from them.
Make A Deal
If you are ready to make a commitment to getting dental sealants, we can give them to you during your next routine visit to our California dental office.
To schedule your appointment, call Westwood Dental Smiles at 310-208-4084 or use our online form. We look forward to making your team stronger.
