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When your child visits the dentist, one of the preventive oral care options offered after a teeth cleaning will be fluoride varnish. This treatment is a valuable tool for keeping teeth strong. Here’s what you need to know about the process and the reason for it.

Why Does Your Child Need Fluoride Varnish?

Fluoride is a mineral that fortifies the hard enamel shell on each of your child’s teeth. This enamel is under constant attack from bacteria in their mouth, which leach out the minerals and weaken the teeth, making them vulnerable to decay. 

Calcium and other minerals are plentiful in your child’s diet, but fluoride can be hard to come by. It’s sometimes found in water and usually included in dental hygiene products, but your child’s teeth may still experience demineralization over time without extra help. After all, their teeth and bones are still growing, so they need more minerals than the average grownup.

The Fluoride Varnish Process

DentistTo give your child’s teeth a dose of fluoride, the dentist will first complete a routine cleaning. They’ll then paint the fluoride varnish onto your child’s teeth. The varnish will take a few minutes to solidify, after which it will stay on your child’s teeth for a few hours or until it’s rubbed off.

What to Do After the Appointment

The longer the varnish sits on your child’s teeth, the longer it will have to soak into the enamel. For this reason, your child shouldn’t eat or drink anything hard, tough, or hot until the day after their dentist visit. They can eat cold or warm foods that are soft as well as drink liquids. They shouldn’t brush or floss for four to six hours. If the fluoride is applied late in the day, they may need to wait until the next morning to brush.

 

For a kid-friendly dentist offering fluoride varnish and other preventive treatments, choose Main Street Dental in La Crosse, WI. For over 30 years, they’ve offered convenient, comfortable, welcoming service to area residents of all ages. Dr. Dan Kujak offers advanced, modern dental options for healthy smiles. Call 608-784-4063 or learn more about preventive dentistry online.

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