Toothspot - All About Teeth

What Are Sealants? Over 80% of all childhood cavities occur on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Bacteria settle here and use food particles to create cavity-causing acid. Sealants are thin coatings of resin applied to the chewing surfaces of these back teeth. They act as a physical barrier to prevent bacteria and food from collecting in the grooves and fissures. Sealants are usually applied to the permanent first molars which erupt around the age of 6 and second molars, erupting around the age of 12. It's important to have the sealants applied as soon as these teeth erupt.  Even if the sealant is lost, the material which has penetrated the enamel continues to provide protection. They're easily replaced if lost and are nearly 100% effective in preventing decay. Foods that stay in the mouth for long periods of time, such as sucking on lollipops or sipping juice, give the bacteria (plaque) present in the mouth more time to produce acid that causes tooth decay.  Dent

Teething Teething refers to the eruption of the deciduous (baby teeth) and permanent teeth. It's a natural occurrence and usually happens without any problems. However, some children may feel discomfort before their first tooth erupts (at about 6 months); some may feel discomfort with the eruption of each of their 20 baby teeth. Teething occurs between 6 months and 24 months of age although it can occur earlier. Normally the bottom two incisors (lower front teeth) will come in first, followed by the top four incisors (upper front teeth). When teething, children may be irritable and may place objects or fingers in their mouth and bite on them. Drooling may increase and the child may be very choosy about foods or even refuse foods altogether. Their gums may appear tender and swollen; often the cheeks near the affected gums will become red. For some children, their teeth appear without much fuss at all. But all toddlers are not so lucky. Some may become extremely irritable. So