What Foods Should Be Avoided with Dental Sealants?

What Are Dental Sealants?

It is a type of dental filling that protects teeth from acids and bacteria that cause dental cavities. Usually, dental sealants work by creating a barrier over the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. The goal is to fill in the fissures and depressions of molars and premolars. Unlike traditional dental fillings, you need dental sealants before decay begins.

Type of Dental Sealants

There are too many types of dental sealants in preventive dentistry:

1. Composite sealants – rely on composite resin, similar to composite dental fillings.
2. Glass ionomers – feature acrylics and are preferred for sealing teeth. They have a unique feature of releasing fluoride on teeth gradually over the years.

What Is the Role of Dental Sealants in Dentistry?

Dental sealants in Gilbert are purely preventive measures for protecting teeth against bacteria that cause a dental cavity. Therefore, Gilbert dentists recommend dental sealants to patients who have not yet developed dental cavities. Further, the treatment befits patients who need extra protection for their teeth because they are highly prone to dental decay.

What Makes You Prone to Dental Cavities?

There must be a reason why children are more prone to dental cavities than grown up. Usually, dental sealants are more popular in pediatric dentistry than in treating adult oral cavities. Some of the factors that heighten your risk of dental cavities are:

1. Having a sweet tooth – a craving for sweet foods, including candies, cookies, ice cream, and chocolate. Adults with a sweet tooth have a high likelihood of dental cavities.
2. Poor oral hygiene – if you are not keen to brush your teeth twice daily and floss at least once, you heighten your risk for dental cavities. The sticks are higher for children who have not yet mastered the right technique for brushing their teeth.
3. Deep fissures on the back teeth – some patients generally have deeper depressions on their molars and premolars than others.

How to Care for Your Teeth After Getting Dental Sealants

The role of dental sealants is to protect your teeth, not to replace oral care measures. Therefore, intentional dental care measures will help you get the most out of your dental sealants. Besides, if you are keen to care for your teeth, you may be able to retain your dental sealants for longer than ten years. Some of the ways to do so include the following:

1. Brush your teeth at least twice every day – ensure you are gentle so you do not dislodge the dental sealants while applying the necessary pressure to remove plaque and food residue from your teeth. Besides, dental sealants only protect the chewing surfaces of your back teeth. Only dental hygiene can protect the rest of your teeth from bacteria and acids that cause dental decay.
2. Floss daily – flossing not only takes care of your teeth but also minds your gum health. Healthy gums prevent bacteria from hiding in the folds, which can eventually cause dental decay. Besides, dental sealants cannot protect the surfaces between your teeth.
3. Visit your dentist routinely – a dentist near you does not insist that you keep visiting him/her because they miss you. Instead, routine dental checkups and cleanings are the best way to maintain excellent oral health, especially after getting dental sealants.
4. Avoid eating hard foods – dental sealants are not built to last a lifetime. Therefore, if you are not careful, eating hard foods will crack or break your dental sealants. It may allow bacteria to seep into the inner layers of your teeth and cause dental decay.

What Foods Should You Avoid After Getting Dental Sealants?

1. Sugary foods – dental sealants cannot protect your teeth from all the sugars and acids released from sugary foods. Therefore, limit sugary foods if you want your teeth and gums to remain healthy for a long time. Examples include candies and cookies.
2. Sticky or chewy foods – stick on your teeth and risk dislodging the sealant material. Examples include chewing gum, gummy candy, caramel, and toffee.
3. Hard and crunchy foods – risk breaking or cracking your sealants. Examples include hard nuts, popcorn kernels, ice, and jawbreakers.