Dental care and good oral health are vital for overall health, and this is true starting from an early age. This is why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends fluoride varnish treatment for children up to four times a year once the first tooth has appeared.
Oral Health Supports Whole-Child Health
We know that adding dentist appointments to the calendar isn’t easy, especially for busy working parents with multiple children. It’s easy to skip dental appointments here and there without meaning to. And, some parents might not worry too much about oral health in the baby and toddler stages since the baby teeth fall out anyway. However, oral health is important at every stage of life, including toddlers and very young children.
Cavities and other dental issues can cause infections that travel up through the root socket and into the sinus cavities, which can lead to more frequent colds, flu, or more serious infections. Also, when we look at the long-term picture, children who lack healthy dental care are at higher risk for chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, metabolic conditions, and chronic tooth decay.
We know forming healthy habits with your child early on, including biannual dental appointments and regular fluoride varnish treatments, sets your child up for a lifetime of better overall health. To support families with this, Pediatric Associates of the Northwest also makes general oral health screenings, including fluoride varnish treatments, part of routine well child care visits.
Risk Factors for Cavities
Many children have risk factors for cavities, such as well water, frequent snacking, not brushing teeth twice a day, and parent/guardians with recent dental disease. In the greater Portland area, children face an added risk for cavities since our municipal water supplies lack fluoride.
Fluoride is a natural mineral that can slow or prevent cavities from forming. It is proven safe and effective in protecting our teeth. Fluoride works most effectively when applied topically, such as with a fluoride varnish or by brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste. Oral fluoride supplements can also be prescribed and used, but they are typically less effective than fluoride that is applied to the teeth. If there is a high risk for cavities, both topical and oral fluoride supplements can be helpful.
Cavities are the most common chronic disease in children, affecting five to eight times as many children as asthma. Untreated cavities can lead to pain, infection, nutritional deficiencies, poor growth outcomes, behavioral and sleep problems, and compromised quality of life and school attendance.
PANW’s Approach to Supporting Your Child’s Oral Health
Local pediatric dentists agree that fluoride varnish at the pediatrician’s office, in combination with getting it at your child’s dental office is the best way to support your child’s health. Dr. David Raphael from Portland Children’s Dentistry says, “Application of fluoride varnish is one of the easiest and most effective ways to help prevent cavities. Combining fluoride varnish with a well-balanced diet and good oral hygiene habits sets up children for a lifetime of good oral health.”
In alignment with the AAP’s recommendation that children receive a fluoride varnish up to four times a year, the clinicians at Pediatric Associates of the Northwest will be offering fluoride varnish as part of preventive care at every well visit between ages one (1) and five (5) years old.
What Exactly Should I Expect With a Fluoride Varnish?
A fluoride varnish is a safe, quick treatment that helps protect teeth from cavities. It’s a powerful, natural mineral found in rocks, soil, and some natural water supplies. When applied to or exposed to our teeth, fluoride not only repairs and hardens tooth enamel but also slows the growth and movement of bacteria and other mouth germs that cause gingivitis (gum disease) and cavities.
We know that children can be wary of what to expect in a doctor’s office, but they can rest assured that a fluoride treatment is quick and completely painless. In fact, it’s not very different than brushing their teeth at home.
During the fluoride varnish treatment, a very thin coat of fluoride is painted onto your child’s teeth. The varnish sticks to the teeth and slowly releases fluoride over several hours. Typically, your child will sit in your lap or, if confident enough, sit by themselves. Then, a gentle brush or sometimes a toothbrush is used to paint the fluoride varnish on all teeth. It hardens quickly and may feel sticky for a short time.
Some children notice a taste. If so, the mouth can be rinsed with water. The application takes less than one minute and does not hurt. Children can eat and drink right away after the fluoride varnish. Only particularly hard, crunchy, or sticky foods should be avoided until the next morning. An extra bonus is that your child gets to skip brushing their teeth that night so the fluoride can harden!
Insurance Coverage for Fluoride Varnishes
Most insurance companies cover the cost of fluoride varnishes, but not all. We strongly recommend checking with your specific insurance about coverage. If your insurance does not cover fluoride varnishes, the out-of-pocket cost is $36, making it a very affordable option compared with the out-of-pocket costs and discomfort of cavity repairs, fillings, or more serious dental treatments.
FAQs About Fluoride & Fluoride Treatments
Q1: If my child brushes their teeth, isn’t that good enough?
A: With the risk of cavities being so high in children (especially in the Portland area), brushing alone may not be enough. Many of our patient parents grew up in communities where fluoride was present in the water supply and in the toothpaste. This served as a continuous source of fluoride protection, so fluoride supplementation wasn’t as important.
However, since Portland water sources and well water lack fluoride, and many toothpastes are now made fluoride-free, your child’s teeth may have compromised enamel. These treatments counteract the lack of fluoride elsewhere, keeping that enamel sealed and strong.
Q2: Is fluoride varnish treatment enough to prevent cavities?
A: Fluoride varnish is part of a combined approach to prevent cavities. It is still recommended to brush teeth with fluoride toothpaste, floss regularly, and potentially use oral fluoride supplements. As with any supplementation, the use of oral fluoride should be discussed with your pediatrician or dentist to check if it’s needed based on your child’s risk factors.
Don’t forget that diet also plays a critical role in cavity prevention. Minimizing sugary and processed foods supports dental health, as does brushing or rinsing/swishing the mouth out after meals or snacks.
Q3: Why do children need fluoride?
A: We all have bacteria in our mouth that combine with sugars from food and drinks to make acid. The acid harms the outer layer of the tooth, called the enamel. Once there are holes in the enamel, bacteria in our mouths can get into our teeth, starting a cycle of decay that can lead to cavities and gum disease. That cycle can also include gum disease or infections that spread from the teeth/gums to other parts of our body.
Fluoride protects teeth from being damaged by the acid and helps rebuild tooth enamel. That is why many communities add fluoride to the tap water. Children should brush their teeth with toothpaste that has fluoride in it. Drinking plenty of water too will help their teeth (and keep children well hydrated).
Q4: Is fluoride linked to lower IQ?
A: Fluoride in drinking water at the recommended level has not been linked to lower IQ scores. Some studies, including from the U.S. government, have noted a possible link between very high fluoride levels in drinking water—more than twice the level of fluoride in U.S. drinking water—and lower IQ scores in children. The findings were based on studies in non-U.S. countries in which some pregnant women and children were exposed to total fluoride concentrations exceeding 1.5 mg per liter of drinking water.
However, here in Portland, without any fluoride supplementation in water, brushing teeth with a toothpaste containing fluoride, and scheduling fluoride dental treatments with a pediatrician or dentist, ensures your family has the fluoride protection they need within safe and appropriate levels.
FAQ answers sourced from healthychildren.org Fluoride for Children: Parent FAQs – HealthyChildren.org
