For many children in the United States, tooth decay is a health problem that can be easily avoided with proper care and regular fluoride treatments. Dr. Willie M. Hardie and his team of expert pediatric dentists at Hardie Dentistry for Kids in Vancouver, Washington, provide fluoride treatments as part of comprehensive pediatric dental care for children of all ages — from infants to teens. Fluoride treatments are one of the best ways to prevent cavities and protect young teeth. Call the office or click the online booking agent to schedule an appointment for your child.
A fluoride treatment is a special varnish that a member of Dr. Hardie’s dental team applies to your child’s teeth, often after a thorough dental cleaning.
The varnish itself is made with fluoride, which is proven to strengthen the enamel on your child’s teeth and help prevent or slow down tooth decay, so it doesn’t get worse.
Along with a healthy diet, a good at-home oral hygiene routine, and regularly scheduled professional pediatric dental visits, fluoride treatments can help your kids have fewer cavities.
A Hardie Dentistry team member applies the fluoride to your child’s teeth with a small brush, being careful to paint the top and sides of each tooth with the fluoride solution. It usually takes just a few minutes to brush the varnish onto the teeth./p>
The varnish is a sticky substance that hardens on your child’s teeth, which feels different than smooth enamel, and it doesn’t come off on its own. Your child shouldn’t brush it off for 4-6 hours, or as Dr. Hardie advises.
It’s usually OK to eat or drink while the fluoride is on your child’s teeth, but it’s a good idea to avoid anything crunchy or hard to avoid rubbing the varnish off. Additionally, your child should avoid eating hot foods or liquids as well.
After the allotted time, your child brushes their teeth as usual to remove the varnish, or sometimes they can even wait until the following morning to do so.
Yes, fluoride treatments are safe for children of all ages. Only a small amount protects teeth from decay, and — for the most part — the fluoride stays on the teeth, so there’s no danger in swallowing it. It quickly hardens on the teeth after it’s applied to help it stay in place, too.
Many pediatricians and pediatric dentists, like Dr. Hardie and the team at Hardie Dentistry for Kids, believe that fluoride treatments are an essential part of preventing tooth decay and promoting positive lifelong dental habits and oral health.
To learn more about fluoride treatments for your children, call the Vancouver office or schedule an appointment using the online booking system.