What Parents Need to Know About Fluoride for Children

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Children should be taught about the importance of dental health. Once your child grows a tooth, your doctor will recommend fluoride varnish to make sure that your child's teeth will be healthy and strong. Since your child won't have access to a dentist until they reach a certain age, fluoride varnish is a way to make sure their teeth are protected as it grows. 

What is fluoride?

Fluoride is a mineral that is found in teeth and your bones. In dentistry, it is used to strengthen enamel, which is the outer layer of our teeth. As seen in toothpaste and other dental products, fluoride is endorsed because it can help prevent the spread of cavities. In America, small amounts of fluoride are added into the water to promote dental health. 

Fluoride is very important to children whose teeth are just starting to grow. Children love to eat sweets, and they are the number one cause of cavities because if sugar is left inside the mouth for a long time, it can cause decay and create holes on the tooth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, the number of decaying teeth or missing teeth in 12-year-old children in America dropped 68% from the 1960s to the 1990s. This is thanks to the growing campaign against cavities, the spread of educational information about dental health and the amounts of fluoride added to the water in several communities.

What is fluoride varnish?

Fluoride varnish is painted by the dentist on the side and the top of each tooth. It is sticky and it has a bit of sting on the tongue but it hardens as soon as it comes in contact with saliva. It can't be licked off and it dries up fast. It can be brushed off after 4 to 12 hours as the benefits have been already absorbed by the teeth and gums by then.

Fluoride varnish is very safe and can be used on children, in fact, it is recommended by dentists and doctors worldwide. There are brands that give off a shiny look on your teeth while others can make your teeth look yellow, but the color is not permanent. Once your child brushes his or her teeth, the color will go back to normal.

Keep in mind that even though fluoride varnish can help prevent tooth decay and help delay the spread of cavities in your child's teeth, it can't completely prevent cavities. The spread of cavities can only be prevented if you teach your child proper dental care, and even though it can prevent tooth decay, other signs of cavities can still be applicable like bad breath and yellow teeth. 

Proper dental care

As soon as your child grows a few pairs of teeth, it is important that you teach him or her the proper brushing technique. You can purchase toothpastes that are meant for kids, they usually have fruity flavors. Put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on their toothbrush and teach them to brush their teeth in an up and down motion, and include back of their teeth and their tongue. Brushing should last for 2 minutes to make sure that the whole mouth was covered. As they grow older, you can teach them how to use a mouthwash and dental floss for healthy-looking teeth and gums.  

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