Your child needs healthy teeth and gums to maintain excellent overall health. It is why your child’s pediatrician discusses with you excellent dental habits even before your child’s first tooth emerges.
The pediatrician recommends your child receive professionally administered fluoride varnish treatments in the office to prevent tooth decay. The treatments are recommended two to four times every year by a medical professional, making you wonder, is fluoride treatment necessary for toddlers? This article explains why your child must receive fluoride treatment for kids and how it helps them strengthen their enamel to prevent dental caries. How many treatments are suggested depends on how likely your child is prone to getting cavities.
Pediatricians are trained to apply fluoride varnish because many children do not have access to a dentist until they are older. However, if your child already has a pediatric dentist recommended by the ADA, fluoride treatments are provided at the dental office.
Understanding Fluoride Varnish
Treatments with fluoride varnish are an excellent way to prevent tooth decay, prevent it from worsening, or even stop it. The varnish is made with a natural mineral fluoride that strengthens the tooth enamel.
Parents must understand fluoride treatments do not entirely prevent cavities. However, the treatments are beneficial to prevent tooth decay after a child begins brushing using the appropriate amount of toothpaste with fluoride, flossing every day, having a healthy diet, and getting regular dental care from the pediatric dentist in Lincoln, NE.
The Safety of Fluoride Treatments for Children
Dentists and doctors throughout the world recommend fluoride treatments for children as a preventive measure against tooth decay. Dr. Rebecca Scott from Lincoln children’s dentistry, PC, uses only a tiny amount of fluoride, ensuring the child doesn’t swallow any. The fluoride application is quick and hardens instantly. After that, the child can brush the fluoride off after four or 12 hours.
Some fluoride brands make your child’s teeth appear yellow, and others make them look dull. However, your child’s natural tooth shade returns to normal after brushing off the fluoride. Your child will love the taste of fluoride.
How Are Fluoride Treatments Provided?
The fluoride varnish is painted on the chewing surfaces of the Crown and sides of each tooth with a tiny brush. Fluoride is sticky but hardens instantly after coming into contact with saliva. The child feels the hardened fluoride with their tongue but is unable to lick it off.
Fluoride treatments are painless and do not cause any discomfort in the child. However, the possibility of your child crying before or during the procedure remain. The application merely requires a few minutes. Fluoride treatments for children are more manageable when they cry because they do so with their mouths slightly open.
The dentist may request you to hold your child in your lap during the application making it easier for them to complete the treatment.
How to Care for a Child’s Teeth after Fluoride Treatment?
You can provide your child a treat immediately after fluoride application is accomplished at the dentist’s office. Children can eat or drink anything they want after the application. Just ensure you don’t give your child hot foods or liquids but stick to their favored soft and cold Foods.
Do not brush off the child’s teeth for at least four to six hours. The dentist may recommend not to brush or floss until the next morning. If your child knows how to spit, remind them to do so when rinsing.
Important Information For Parents to Remember
Appropriate steps to excellent dental health include regular care by a pediatric dentist qualified in treating children. Children must receive education about regular brushing and flossing and having a nutritious diet. Children must get sufficient fluoride either from toothpaste or drinking water.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants receive risk assessments of their oral health by six months of age. Infants and toddlers at a higher risk of dental caries receive referrals to a dentist no later than six months after their first tooth’s emergence. Every child must have a dental home providing them excellent dental hygiene habits they carry forward throughout their lives.
Fluoride treatments strengthen the teeth’ outer layer of the enamel to prevent tooth decay from penetrating the tooth. Therefore the safety aspects of fluoride treatments for children are undisputed.
