Flouride Varnish

Our family does NOT do flouride (of any type) at all. We also have well water. Our daughter is 4 and the dentist says her teeth are great and to keep up whatever we are doing.

What we are doing is: NO pop, rarely gets candy, juice is a treat, we eat organic as often as possible (especially all produce!), don't eat fast food, and try to have the kids brush their teeth a couple times a week (we would love to do it every day but often forget!!!).

IT is a personal decision that you need to make based on your family lifestyle. We personally just didn't agree with turning a toxic chemical into something "that's supposed to be good for you" because it's cheaper than paying to dispose of it. But lots of people really like flouride so if it works for them, great! We just chose not to use it.

Good luck with your decision.

I know what you are talking about. Our dd had this done when she was a little older then your son and like you we didn't understand why, but now 8 years later let me tell you we are happy we had it done! We where later told that she had "soft teeth" and by having this done it has helped SO much! She loves going and on the off chance she needs to have something done, she's fine with it. She has had to have 1 filling done and 2 teeth pulled cuz they just wheren't coming out on there own. I hope this helps ease your mind a little.
T. from WI

Hi C., What would be the reason you would not like to have it done? I am aware there are people whom are against fluoride (I am not, I am a firm believer in the the benefits), but if you are not why not do it? I am a dental hygienist and we are doing them more frequently now since I went to a seminar a couple years ago and was informed varnish is one of the best ways to prevent decay. Your child will actually ingest less fluoride with the varnish then with the tray fluoride (which is why it is suggested for very young children especially)and will get benefit longer because it is in contact with the tooth longer. Also once the bacteria that causes decay is in the mouth it will be a constant battle to work against. Prevention is your best bet. Also FYI xylitol is a sugar alcohol that binds to the decay causing bacteria and is in many toothpastes, hard candy, gums, infant wipes, and mouth washes. It can be found on line and at health food stores also in some over the counter products however not as much in these. This is something to google and then start using when you are comfortable with the research you have done. Good luck with your decision.

We have well water that is so nasty we filter is with Reverse Osmosis before drinking it. My daughter doesn't use fluoride toothpaste because we can't trust her not to swallow it. Since those 2 sources of fluoride have been removed, I was OK with the fluoride varnish for her. I believe that some fluoride is good protection for teeth. She was very cooperative, (the dentist told her he was going to paint her teeth, which she thought was fun), and it took less than 5 minutes.
If she were drinking fluoridated water and using fluoride toothpaste, I probably would have said no to the varnish, because I do think it is possible to over-do fluoride. This is my opinion based on family dental history, and based on the research I've done. I would suggest you look into the fluoride issue yourself, take your family's circumstances and dental history into account, and go from there.

My son is 12 months and his pediatrician brought it up at his last well-child visit, but since he only has 4 teeth (our son, not the doctor : )), he said wait until his 18-month for the referral. I had never heard of this before, even for my daughter who is 3. From the responses, it doesn't sound entirely new, so I'm not sure why the push now either. I'm glad you asked about this because I was curious too. The responses seem pretty positive.

I have had that put on my daughter's teeth twice (she is three) at her doctor's and both times have been quick and painless. I figured, why not? It doesn't hurt them. It's not invasive and medicine continues to improve from years past (even though people were fine without it). My insurance covered it 100%. When we went to the dentist for the first time a few weeks ago, they did it as well and when they found out that her doctor had already done it, they were surprised but very pleased.

My mom is a dental hygienist and teaches at one of the dental schools in Iowa. She encouraged me to have my kids teeth varnished. It helps strength their teeth and prevent cavities. It basically is the new technology for the fluoride gel that used to be put on kids teeth in the trays that gagged you. So in essence it has been put on kids teeth for years and years. The varnish doesn't hurt to put on at they can eat pretty quickly afterward.

I've even had it put on my teeth. Tastes funny but not bad.

I figured better to put on the varnish then potentially deal with a cavity and the the pain of a filling.

I have had this done practically every time I've been to the dentist...there's nothing to it. It is just an alternative to sitting in the office with a tray in your mouth. The varnish [which is just an off-white gummy feeling layer] doesn't even stay on your teeth. After they put it on, they tell you not to eat or drink for a certain amount of time, but after brushing for the first time it is usually completely removed. I don't see any reason your son can't have it put on. At the two dental clinics I go to, it is common practice. If you are paying out of pocket, as long as your water is fluoridated and you are brushing his teeth and avoiding sweets, you could wait until he is older. I wanted to add, I have had it done many times and when the time comes I will let my son get the varnish too because our family has a long history of bad teeth. As the other posters have said, you should consider your family's history. There is a potentially great benefit but also a potentially great risk. I figure with how much bottled water we drink and the fact that I almost never use toothpaste [just water], the amount of fluoride in the varnish is not likely to cause issues for us

yea both my kids had it done-their now in their late 20,s and still cavity free-this stuff works wonders...

My older daughter did not have this option and her teeth are horrible.

My baby8mos. is definately getting this...when she gets some teeth.

Our Wic office does it.

I would certainly wait until your son gets closer to 3 years old for his first dental visit. At that point make a decision about the fluoride varnish based on family history.

No one has suggested this for either of my kids (ages 8 and 5). Find out if there is a specific reason he is suggesting it. For some kids, maybe it is a good idea. Neither of my kids has ever had a cavity FWIW.

I would make sure you're brushing twice a day and watch the sweets and juice (my kids rarely get either).

After having my 5 year old granddaughter just get a root canal and crown put on one of her baby molars, I'd opt for the fluoride varnish. Maybe if she would have had that procedure, this might have been prevented. I'd maybe wait until he was 3 and ready for his first dental checkup...
JMO,
Renee