While children and adults can both benefit from sealants, the earlier they are applied, the better. The first molars appear around age 6, and second molars erupt around age 12. Sealing these teeth as soon as they come through can keep them cavity-free.

 

A sealant is a thin, protective coating (typically made from plastic) that sticks to the chewing surface of your back teeth. While there is no substitute for brushing and flossing, sealants can keep cavities from forming and may even stop early stages of decay from developing into a full-blown cavity. In fact, sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80% in molars. This is especially important when it comes to your child's dental health. In October 2016, the Centers for Disease Control released a report that found "school-age children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants."