What is Fluoride Fluoride Varnish? Fluoride varnish is a To learn more about fluoride varnish Varnish protective coating that talk to your dentist, or contact: is painted on teeth to help prevent new cavities and to help stop cavities that have already started. Jennifer Granholm, Governor Janet Olszewski, Director Oral Health Program The paint on fluoride Division of Family and Community Health varnish is sticky, so it Washington Square Building 109 W. Michigan Avenue, 4th Floor attaches to the teeth Lansing, MI 48913 517-373-3624 easily and makes the www.michigan.gov/oralhealth outer layer (enamel) of the teeth harder helping Funding for Varnish! Michigan is made possible to prevent cavities. through a $250,000 grant from Delta Dental of Michigan. Protect Your Child’s FVB-10/07 Smile Why is fluoride varnish Is fluoride varnish recommended for children’s teeth? safe? Tooth decay is one of the most common Yes, fluoride varnish can be preventable diseases in children. Children as used on babies from the time young as 12 to18 months can get cavities. they have their first teeth. Cavities in children’s teeth can cause pain and Only a very small amount of prevent children from eating, speaking, sleeping fluoride varnish is used. and learning. How is fluoride Does my child need fluoride varnish? varnish applied to Children who are at risk for dental decay or do not live in communities with fluoridated water benefit the teeth? from the application of fluoride varnish to their The fluoride varnish is easily teeth to help stop or prevent decay. painted on the teeth with a small disposable brush. It is quick, painless, and does not At what age should fluoride varnish have a bad taste. be applied? Fluoride varnish is recommended for children of What should parents do after fluoride Who will provide this service? all ages, including infants. Fluoride varnish is an A trained health professional will apply the fluoride effective replacement for weekly school fluoride varnish is applied to a child’s teeth? varnish to your child’s teeth. mouthrinse programs • Do not brush your child’s teeth until the next day. • Don’t allow your child to eat hard or chewy What is the cost to have fluoride foods, including gum,on the treatment day. varnish applied? This might chip the varnish off. • The fluoride varnish can be yellow or clear. If There is no cost to the family the teeth appear yellow for 24 hours, this is if a child receives fluoride normal, and will disappear when the teeth are varnish through the MDCH brushed the next day. Varnish! Michigan program. If the child is covered by Medicaid or other How long does fluoride varnish last? dental insurance, the The fluoride varnish sticks to the teeth until brushed insurance company away the next day, however, the benefits of the may be billed. fluoride will last for several months. Fluoride varnish Otherwise, grants needs to be reapplied every 3 to 4 months for will pay for the best results. treatment..