It is the dream of every mother and father to nip tooth decay in the cradle. However, the cruel reality tells us that 7 out of 10 children in China are babies with tooth decay. The results of the fourth national oral health epidemiological survey published in 2017 show that the rate of decayed milk teeth among 5-year-old children is 70.9%, which is 5.8 percentage points higher than 10 years ago, yet the proportion of teeth treated with filling among 5-year-old children with decayed teeth is only 4.1%. After all, there are still many mothers who think that it is okay if the milk teeth are broken, they will be replaced sooner or later. It is this kind of thinking that makes children suffer. The danger of decayed baby teeth The serious decay of baby teeth will develop into pulpitis and apical inflammation, and the child will suffer from pain, eat poorly and absorb nutrients poorly, and in the long run, it may also infect the permanent teeth underneath the baby teeth, resulting in discoloration or uneven surface of permanent teeth, and the risk of decay of permanent teeth will also increase accordingly. In addition, premature extraction of decayed baby teeth will cause the adjacent baby teeth to tilt towards the missing part, and when the permanent teeth start to erupt, they will become crooked due to the lack of space. Precaution is the rule, and so is the prevention of tooth decay. In addition to taking your child to the dentist every 3-6 months after the first tooth erupts, brushing carefully twice a day and controlling the intake of sweets, the American Dental Association (ADA) also recommends that children should have fluoride applied at least once every 6 months. Fluoride application Fluoride application is to fluoridate the surface of each tooth with a substance containing fluoride. This is a very effective method to prevent dental caries, which has been carried out for many years abroad and is a routine dental care method for children. 1. Why do we need dental fluoride? As we know, teeth are afraid of acid corrosion, and fluoride is a substance that can remineralize teeth and make them hard and not easy to be corroded by acid. Therefore, there are several benefits of dental fluoride application: First, it can strengthen the teeth and prevent tooth decay; Second, at the early stage of tooth decay, while the cavity is not yet formed, fluoride can quickly replenish the lost minerals on the tooth surface, so that the early demineralization can be repaired; Third, it can inhibit the growth of bacteria. 2. When can I have my teeth fluoridated? According to the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is time to take your child to the dentist when the first tooth erupts, and no later than the first birthday. Thereafter, regular visits to the dentist should be made. Whether and when the teeth need to be fluoridated should follow the advice of the dentist and be based on the specific situation of the child’s teeth. 3. Does fluoride prevent teeth from breaking down? No. Fluoride does not completely prevent tooth decay. However, if children brush their teeth properly and effectively every day, floss regularly and keep their mouth healthy, fluoride can prevent tooth decay. 4. How is the fluoride application done? Dental fluoride application must be done by a professional dentist. The dentist will use a small brush to apply fluoride to the face and sides of the teeth, and then the fluoride will harden quickly. Even if the child licks it with his or her tongue, it usually does not lick off. 5. Does it hurt to apply fluoride? No. It does not hurt. The fluoride is usually a fruity flavor that children like and the whole process can be completed in a few minutes and is completely painless. 6. What should I pay attention to after the fluoride application? Usually children can eat immediately after fluoride application (but generally, the dentist will advise not to eat for half an hour, and if you do eat, please be careful to give your child soft or liquid food that is cool or warm, not too hot). Do not brush or floss for at least 4-6 hours; usually the doctor will recommend brushing the next day. Remind your child to spit out the mouthwash when brushing and not to swallow it. 7. Is fluoride application safe for children? Fluoride application is now a common treatment method adopted by dentists around the world and is safe for children. When fluoride is applied, the amount of fluoride is small and hardens quickly, so swallowing by the child usually does not occur. 4-12 hours later, the excess fluoride can be brushed off. Fissure Closure Looking in the mirror you can see that the chewing surfaces of our molar teeth are not flat and smooth, but have some tiny grooves. To seal the grooves, the doctor uses a resin-like substance to seal the cracks or deep grooves on the chewing surfaces of the molar teeth to prevent food debris and bacteria from hiding in them and causing tooth decay over time. It is a method recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent tooth decay. Are the materials used for the sealant toxic? The material usually used for the sealant is a non-toxic polymer resin material, which is undoubtedly safe and can be excreted even if it is dislodged and eaten. How old is a child for fissure closure? Ideally (especially for children with high risk of caries, such as those with deep sockets), the sealant should be done at these three ages: 3-4 years old for milk molar sealant; 6-7 years old for first permanent molar (sixth age tooth) sealant; 12-13 years old for bicuspid and second permanent molar sealant. Since there is no grinding of the teeth, it does not hurt and there is no foreign body sensation afterwards. The process will also be quick, usually taking about 10 minutes for a tooth if the child is cooperative. Will my teeth be decay-free after I have them sealed? No. Although the sealant does not fall off easily, our teeth are chewing and rubbing every day, so a slight loss of sealant is inevitable, so we should review and repair every 3~6 months. At the same time, daily brushing and cleaning of the mouth is still the key to oral health care. Which is more effective, fluoride or fissure closure? Both of them have their own focus. Fluoride application is suitable for the whole mouth, while the fissure sealing is mainly for the molars (including milk molars and permanent molars), because the molars are most prone to decay. It is recommended to listen to the dentist’s advice and to do targeted preventive measures for your child at different periods.