girl after getting a tooth filling in palos heights

Your Secret Weapon Against Cavities

December 8, 2020
|
Posted By: Dr. Richard Facko
kids after dental exam in palos heights

As a parent, you want the best for your child. You want to help them avoid painful situations if you can, and the good news is that tooth decay and cavities are something you can prevent.

How do you do it? Well, establishing a good brushing routine at home is the first place to start. Next, regular appointments with their pediatric dentist for checkups and teeth cleanings will also protect their smile. Finally, your dentist may recommend some additional procedures to help protect your little one's teeth, such as fluoride treatments or dental sealants.

Believe it or not, dental sealants in Palos Heights can be one of the easiest ways to protect your son or daughter's smile from tooth decay and cavities. Here's how they work.

The Power of Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are thin, smooth coatings that fill in the pits and grooves of the teeth' chewing surfaces. The sealant protects the tooth from food and bacteria that get trapped in those pits and grooves and cause tooth decay. Sealants also guard against the acids that eat through tooth enamel and cause cavities. 

Dentists agree that most children who have sealants on their teeth usually experience fewer cavities than those that don't have them. It often takes time for children to develop their skills when it comes to brushing and flossing their teeth, and sealants are a great way to help them protect their teeth during that time.

Completing Dental Sealants

Sealants are a non-invasive and easy procedure for your son or daughter. Your dentist can typically complete dental sealants in one simple visit that may not even require a dental anesthetic. 

More good news is that if you have dental insurance, it usually covers a portion of dental sealants' cost because they are a preventive procedure. This means that you'll easily be able to fit your son or daughter's dental sealants into your budget.

Contact your children's dentist in Palos Heights, IL today at (708) 263-6708 for more information about sealants. 

Related Blog Posts
May 26, 2026
The "Healthy" Snacks That Are Actually Causing Cavities

Nobody needs to be told that candy is bad for their kids' teeth. But there's a whole category of foods that parents assume are healthy — smart choices, good alternatives to junk food — that are quietly causing just as many cavities. Some of them are probably in your pantry right now.

Why These Foods Are Problematic

Before we get into the list, it helps to understand what makes a food dangerous for teeth. Three factors matter most:

  • Sugar and starch — both feed the cavity-causing bacteria in your child's mouth.
  • Stickiness — ...
May 10, 2026
The Sugar Talk Your Dentist Never Had with You

Most of us have heard that sugar is bad for our teeth since we were kids. But very few people have actually heard why, or which habits are quietly doing more damage than others. Some of them might surprise you.

How Cavities Actually Form

Cavities aren't caused directly by sugar. They're caused by bacteria, specifically a group called Streptococcus mutans, that live in everyone's mouth. We all have them. They're part of the ecosystem of microorganisms that live in our gut, which starts at our mouth.

Here's the chain reaction: those bacteria ...

April 22, 2026
Oral Cancer Awareness Month: What Parents Should Know About Protecting Their Child’s Oral Health
Happy young girl with healthy smile sitting on white bedding, palos heights il

Your child’s pediatric dentist in Palos Heights, IL, believes in regular checkups for children of all ages to help prevent oral health conditions, including oral cancer.

Can Kids Get Oral Cancer?

According to the National Cancer Institute, oral cancer in children is extremely rare. Yet, it’s still important to be ...