What Is Fluoride Varnish Treatment And How Does It Improve Kids' Dental Health?

Posted on: 25 March 2015

Fluoride varnish is used as a dental treatment that aids in the prevention of tooth decay. It consists of a yellow gel that is applied to children's teeth and left to set. Regularly applying fluoride varnish to the teeth will fortify them and make them harder. Teeth that are harder are less likely to develop cavities.

Some dental authorities recommend that dental varnish treatment be used on young patients as often as once every six months. Fluoride varnish can be applied to both baby teeth and adult teeth, and children can receive fluoride varnish treatment at any age.

Not only will fluoride varnish treatment help to prevent cavities from developing, but it can also help to rebuild enamel and remineralize the teeth. Though this treatment is effective at helping to prevent cavities, it's important to remember that maintaining proper dental hygiene through regular brushing and flossing will still be necessary even with regular fluoride varnish treatments.  

The process of applying fluoride varnish

Fluoride varnish is painted on the entire surface of the teeth using a small brush. This includes the front, back, top, and bottom of teeth. The varnish will quickly become hard after application as it comes into contact with saliva. Varnish may temporarily make a child's teeth look yellowish or dull. However, this temporary discoloration will go away the first time teeth are brushed after application of the varnish. 

After fluoride varnish is applied, patients should wait between four and six hours before eating hot foods. Hot foods can cause the varnish to melt away and lose its effectiveness. It's also a good idea for patients to avoid eating hard foods after application because they can chip away at the varnish. 

The safety of fluoride varnish treatment

Fluoride varnish treatment has been shown to be safe on dental patients of all ages. It is not only used to help prevent cavities in young children, but it is also a popular cavity prevention treatment for older patients. The use of fluoride varnish is endorsed by the American Dental Association and other dental health authorities. Fluoride varnish has been used even longer and more frequently as a cavity prevention treatment in Europe than in the United States. 

After it is applied, varnish rapidly hardens onto the teeth. It will harden in as little as 20 seconds. This prevents children from ingesting the fluoride and allows the fluoride to remain in contact with tooth enamel. Speak to a dental clinic like Alaska Dentistry For Kids to learn more about this type of dental treatment.

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Providing Children With Dental Knowledge

When my three children were young, they were all excited to go to the dentist. The dentist's office was great fun with a large fish tank and a variety of puzzle toys in the waiting room. I liked the pediatric dental office so much that I jumped at the chance when I was offered a receptionist job. Many of the children who came to see the dentist were not nearly as happy as my children. Most kids were scared and anxious, and I learned fairly quickly that the children were worried because they had no idea what to expect. The dentist at the office provided me with a set of dental tools that I could show to the children. I explained how each of the devices worked. This eased the fears, and I started this blog so parents could share dental information with their children before dental visits.

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