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Stopping Cavities Without Drills or Shots! 🛑🍬
💧 What Is It?
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is a super liquid that helps stop or slow down cavities (those pesky sugar bugs that eat your teeth)! 🪥🦠
⚙️ How Does It Work?
🧪 Silver = Fights the bacteria that cause cavities
💪 Fluoride = Helps your tooth become strong again (like armor for your teeth!)
👉 The liquid is brushed right onto the spot where a cavity is starting or growing.
🎯 How Well Does It Work?
✅ 2 SDF treatments can stop a cavity 70–80% of the time!
🧼 Combined with good brushing, flossing, and healthy snacks = super smile success!
🔁 It can be reapplied at checkups if the cavity starts again.
🦷 If SDF doesn’t stop the cavity, your dentist will talk to you about the next steps
🚿 How Is SDF Applied?
1️⃣ Dry the tooth area
2️⃣ Brush on a tiny bit of SDF
3️⃣ Let it dry & cover with fluoride varnish
4️⃣ Rinse!
That’s it—no numbing, no drilling, no ouch! 🛠️🚫
💡 What Are the Benefits?
👍 Treats multiple teeth in one visit
🕒 Quick & easy
😌 No needles or drills
🧼 Less spray (aerosols) = cleaner & safer
🖤 What About Side Effects?
🖌️ The treated cavity turns dark (black or brown)—that’s the silver fighting the bacteria!
👉 This doesn’t hurt the healthy tooth around it
🦷 If needed, it can be covered with a filling or crown later
💬 Talk to your dentist about how it will look
⚠️ When SDF Should Not Be Used:
🚫 If your child is allergic to silver
🚫 If there are painful sores in the mouth (like ulcerative gingivitis)
💪 How to Make It Work Even Better!
🧼 Help kids brush & floss every day (especially under age 10!)
🥕 Choose healthy snacks – skip the sticky, sugary stuff!
🦷 Use fluoride toothpaste and products with xylitol
💧 Drink water to rinse away sugar bugs
🕒 After Treatment Instructions
❌ No sticky/chewy snacks (gum, dried fruit, gummies)
☕ No hot drinks (like tea or coffee) for 4 hours
🪥 No brushing or flossing until bedtime
👩⚕️💬 Always talk to your Aloha Pediatric Dentist if you have any questions!