Finding out that you've got another cavity isn't something that anyone wants to hear. If you've had cavities more often than you'd like to admit, it's time to do something different to help protect your teeth. Thankfully, your dentist is there to help. Here's a preventative dental care treatment that can help to protect you from cavities.

The Damage Cavities Do

Cavities obviously can cause pain, unsightly changes to your teeth, and ultimately the need to drill and remove the damaged part. However, that's not all they do.

When you get a cavity, the bacteria and plaque tend to chew away at the entire tooth, not just the area where the cavity formed. While the other areas of damage might not be severe enough to warrant drilling and filling, this kind of erosion will eventually break down the protective layer of enamel on your tooth. This could leave you more susceptible to cavities. So how can you keep yourself from losing your enamel and potentially suffering from pain, internal tooth damage, and potentially even tooth loss? Give your enamel an extra layer of protection.

Sealant

Dental sealants are one easy way to add an extra layer of protection to your teeth. Dental sealants are designed to act like a second layer of enamel, shielding your tooth from the hazards of plaque, bacteria, and acidic food. By having a sealant put on your tooth, you are providing an extra shield to help ensure that you don't get more cavities.

What to Expect

Dental sealants are only available from dentists, but the good news is that they're super easy to get.

There are only two steps to getting dental sealants: a thorough dental cleaning, and the sealants themselves. The cleaning is to ensure that your teeth are completely free of bacteria and plaque before applying the sealants.

Once your teeth are clean, your dentist will begin. Sealants are applied in a liquid form and quickly dry to form a tight seal over the tooth. That's it! No drilling, installations, or special lighting to harden the sealants required. The whole process is very quick and painless.

Protecting your teeth from cavities will still require you to maintain good oral hygiene habits, and it's a good idea to ask your dentist if you're falling short in your brushing or flossing techniques. With good dental habits and sealants protecting your teeth, you will be far less likely to develop cavities in the future. Talk to your dentist about getting sealants added to your teeth today.