Tooth varnish paints a future of healthy smiles
3/31/2025 by Ika Kovacikova, M.D.
The next time you bring your child in for a regular well-child visit, your nurse or clinician may ask if you would like your child to receive fluoride treatment. What’s up with that? While fluoride treatment is offered at your child's dental appointments, receiving this treatment during a medical appointment is just one more way to ensure quick and timely cavity prevention.
This simple treatment for children 6 months to 5 years old is an easy way to prevent cavities and slow the progress of early cavity formation. Fluoride varnish is applied to teeth every three to six months. The American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force back it.
Here’s what to expect at your well-child visit:
- Your child’s electronic health record will alert the clinician that fluoride varnish is due. (Be sure to let us know if you have recently had this done at your dental office.)
- If you have an infant or toddler, you and the clinician will sit knee-to-knee with your child on your lap between you. You’ll gently hold your child’s arms.
- The nurse or clinician will dry the child’s teeth with a piece of gauze, then using a little brush, they’ll paint the varnish on all tooth surfaces. That’s it!
Children can eat or drink anything immediately but should hold off on sticky foods for four hours and wait to brush their teeth until the next day.
The varnish has a delicious bubblegum flavor and is typically very well tolerated. It is safe for your child.
Fluoride varnish is just one step in creating a lifetime of healthy smiles for your child. Here are other important strategies to use:
- Brushing. Brush teeth twice a day after the first tooth. For children age 3 and younger, use a toothbrush with a smear of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. After age three, increase the amount of toothpaste to pea-size. Up until about age six, parents will need to help their children with brushing.
- Healthy eating habits. Encourage eating lots of fruits and veggies, little or no sugary foods or drinks, and less processed food. These same habits will also help prevent obesity.
- Plenty of water. Water is good for every part of our body, and our teeth are no exception. Fluoridated water is the best because fluoridation helps strengthen teeth. Well water must be tested for fluoride to know if it is good for your teeth. Keep in mind that bottled water is only fluoridated if it's spelled out on the label.
- Regular dental checkups and care. Take your child to the dentist after the first tooth emerges or by their first birthday.
Ika Kovacikova, M.D., is a Community Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine physician in Rochester, Minn. She practices primary pediatric care at Mayo Family Clinic Northeast.