Summer is over and it’s time for school and we wanted to remind you of the importance of packaging healthily meals for your child’s lunch.  As you may know, many schools sell sugary snacks or beverages in the school cafeteria or vending machines.  This easy access to sugar can lead to tooth decay.  A healthy diet is important for good oral health.  A combination of a balanced diet and regular dental visits will help keep your child’s smile for a lifetime.

Help your child start good eating habits.  Try to limit between-meal snacks.  If your child is thirsty or needs a snack, stay clear of cookies, candy and other sweets or sticky foods.  Instead, offer water or healthy foods, such as fruit, carrot sticks or wheat crackers.  Save sweets for mealtime, when the mouth makes more saliva to help rinse out food particles.

Sealants are an easy and affordable way to help prevent tooth decay on your children’s teeth.

A sealant is a material that is applied to the teeth where decay occurs most often- the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.  These teeth have the pits and grooves that are hard to clean, because toothbrush bristles cannot reach into them.  The sealant then bonds to the tooth.

The sealant acts as a barrier to keep bacteria and food out of the pits and grooves on a tooth.  Sealants are easy to apply and only a few minutes per tooth are required.

Applying sealants can save time and money but more importantly, but your child may avoid the discomfort and anxiety associated with repairing a decayed tooth.  Sealing a tooth is fast and painless.  Sealants can last several years before they need to be re-applied.
Dr. Rojas will be happy to discuss with you this topic in additional details during your next visit.