Dental Caries and your Child Published Feb. 24, 2011 By Senior Airman Shaleena Pulliam 341st Medical Group Dental Flight MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Although dental caries, or tooth decay, is one of the most common childhood diseases in the United States, there are ways to help a child maintain healthy teeth. Sealants are an effective way of preventing cavities in children by protecting the deep grooves and pits on the chewing surfaces of a child's molar and pre-molar teeth from bacteria. Sealants are quick and easy to apply and are done by a dentist. A sealant is placed by first cleaning the teeth that will be sealed, and then an etchant is used to roughen the chewing surface of the tooth to help the sealant bind to it. The surface of the tooth is then coated with the plastic sealant material and a light is used to harden the sealant. Sealants can last for a number of years, but it is smart to have the sealants checked at a child's periodic dental check-up. Another way of protecting a child's teeth is through the use of fluoride. Before teeth even erupt into the mouth, fluoride ingested through drinking water is already at work strengthening them. For teeth that have already erupted, introducing fluoride via toothpastes, mouthwashes, and fluoride application at the dental office will harden areas of the tooth that have been demineralized, or softened, by bacterial plaque. Fluoride can also prevent small areas of demineralization from getting bigger. Sealants and fluoride are only a couple of ways that help keep a child's teeth in tip-top condition. Using these in conjunction with an oral health regimen which includes daily brushing and regular checkups with a dentist, will help keep children's teeth healthy and strong.