Fluoride Varnish: What Parents Need to Know

A child’s general health depends on having healthy teeth and gums. The lips, teeth, and tongue contribute significantly to eating and digesting and clear, well-formed speech. Many youngsters neglect their oral health despite their importance, which can result in dental caries or cavities.

Dental caries affects 78.9% of children between 6 and 11 years old in India. Dental caries is not only a global public health issue affecting toddlers and pre-schoolers but can also be extremely painful and detrimental to oral health if left untreated. Additionally, they can be expensive to treat and cause kids to miss school because of pain. Because of this, your dentist might suggest fluoride varnish to prevent dental decay in kids.

What is a Fluoride Varnish?

This is a sort of dental care that can either eliminate tooth decay or help in avoiding cavities and other dental problems. The mineral fluoride, used to make fluoride varnish, is known to strengthen the enamel, the outer layer of the teeth.

It’s crucial to understand that fluoride application alone cannot stop cavities from developing. But when a child uses the right quantity of fluoridated toothpaste, flosses frequently consume a healthy diet and visits their pediatric dentist frequently, fluoride varnish treatments can help prevent tooth decay and cavities.

Is it safe to use fluoride varnish treatments?

The fluoride varnish is secure. Dentists and medical professionals use them worldwide to help prevent cavities and prevent tooth decay from getting worse. Fluoride is present in extremely minute quantities in the therapy alone, and very little is swallowed. It instantly becomes harder after being applied. Then, between four and twelve hours later, it is dismissed.

Fluoride treatments are often well-tolerated by kids and have a pleasant taste. Some brands may give your child’s teeth a yellow or dull appearance, but this disappears once the treatment is removed.

How is Fluoride Varnish Applied to your Child’s Teeth?

Each tooth’s top and sides are painted with tincture, also referred to as fluoride varnish. The substance could seem a little sticky at first, but once saliva touches it, it hardens. The varnish on your child’s teeth may be hard enough for them to feel it, yet they cannot lick it off.

There is no discomfort associated with the application process. It takes a few minutes to brush the varnish onto the teeth, and you can even do it while the child is sobbing because their mouth will be somewhat open. However, some young toddlers could still sob if the operation makes them feel unsafe. If you have a small child, you might be asked to sit knee-to-knee with the person applying the varnish while holding your child in your lap.

After the application

For maximum benefit, the fluoride varnish should be left on the child’s teeth during the remainder of the day and overnight.

Please be certain:

To help the fluoride varnish stay on the teeth longer, your child should eat soft foods for the remainder of the day.
At least twice a day, first thing in the morning and last thing at night, brush your teeth and gums. Use toothpaste with a fluoride content of at least 1,000 ppm.

Benefits of Fluoride Treatment

Understanding the advantages of fluoride treatment will help you, as a parent, better understand how crucial it is to your child’s dental health. These are a few of them:

Fluoride treatments make it easier for teeth to absorb other essential minerals. Your teeth become more adept at absorbing calcium and phosphate, two elements that are essential for developing strong and healthy teeth.
Lowers the likelihood of developing dental cavities throughout life; regrettably, very few people live without developing tooth decay. But research indicates that young infants who receive fluoride treatments are less likely to develop cavities later in life.
Fluoride treatment can delay the onset of cavities, even if they have already started to form on your child’s teeth.
Fluoride therapy can successfully stop cavities from developing on teeth in their early stages by eliminating the bacteria causing the infection.
Early tooth loss is still a dental issue, even when it involves baby teeth. The cause is that they permit teeth to shift by leaving gaps in them, which may interfere with the alignment of permanent adult teeth in the future.
Putting the right precautions in place may prevent your child from ever needing expensive dental work to repair and restore their teeth as they get older.

Fluoride varnishes can enhance the likelihood that your child’s teeth will remain strong and cavity-free. They are also relatively less expensive and simple to use. Contact your dentist if you’re considering getting a fluoride varnish treatment, and they can walk you through the process.

No facility can match the level of care offered by Kids Dental Studio in terms of quality. It is a dental practice center created especially for kids. The clinic’s waiting area is equipped with many kid-friendly games. Additionally, you may get your hands on the most excellent care for your child from Dr. Kisha Mehta and Dr. Umangi Lekhadia!

Fluoride Varnish: What Parents Need to Know