Millions of school hours are lost because of problems with children's teeth; an issue that can be prevented.

A baby’s first set of teeth are called primary teeth and because the enamel is very thin and it does not take much for decay to find its way in between the teeth, which makes flossing important. As a child's teeth come in, they are usually a bit uneven, with grooves and crevasses where plaque can hide and cause decay.

Sealant can help solve that problem.

"They are plastic coating and they get into these defects, they fill them in and last for many years," said dentist DR. Christian Mathiesen.

Sealants are placed on molars, around age 6 and again when the child's 12-year-old molars come in. Children and candy go hand in hand, so if parents do allow some sugar, the less time in the mouth, the better.

"Anything that has sugar in it that is going to be sitting in the mouth for a period of time. Whether it is gum or hard candy is much worse than a candy bar. Where you will be eating the candy and swallowing it and it will be out of the mouth," said Mathiesen.

Brushing after treats is always best, twice a day is the minimum with a soft bristle tooth brush and a fluoride rinse.

"We highly recommend fluoride with ortho treatment because of the orthodontic apparatus, it's hard to keep teeth clean," said Mathiesen.

If you live in a county where the water is not fluoridated, or your water supply is a well, talk to your dentist or pediatrician about supplementation.