Dr. Ophir Alalouf has owned and operated Kids Teeth, LLC, in Rockville, Maryland, since late spring of 2000. Dedicated to the long-term oral health of each patient, Ophir Alalouf, DDS, teaches patients and their parents how to care for their fillings.

1. Ophir Alalouf
Tips for Protecting Dental Fillings

2. Introduction
 Dr. Ophir Alalouf has owned and operated Kids
Teeth, LLC, in Rockville, Maryland, since late
spring of 2000. Dedicated to the long-term oral
health of each patient, Ophir Alalouf, DDS,
teaches patients and their parents how to care for
their fillings.
Fillings can last for a number of years if properly
cared for, but their nature as molded plastic
makes them vulnerable to wear and tear. Those
who have fillings must be careful not to bite down
too hard on the affected teeth, or to chew on
particularly hard or sticky foods, as this can break
either the filling or the tooth.

3. Dental Fillings
 Patients who grind their teeth must be particularly
careful. The force of tooth grinding can not only wear
out the filling more quickly, but can cause the filling
material to crack. If a patient is at high risk of
developing a cracked filling due to tooth grinding, he
or she may wish to wear a mouth guard to protect
against nighttime clenching of the jaw.
Proper daily hygiene, including brushing and flossing,
is similarly essential in protecting teeth. Fluoride
treatments can provide further protection for patients
with many fillings, as this helps to strengthen healthy
teeth and prevent future cavities. Such a daily
regimen should be combined with regular visits to the
dentist, so he or she can check for any breaks in
fillings, which can often be repaired without the need
for replacement.