Fluoride Varnish: A Smart, Safe Way to Protect Your Child’s Teeth

When fluoride disappears from drinking water, what’s the next best step? At Families First Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we’ve got a clear answer: fluoride varnish. It’s simple, safe, and incredibly effective for keeping your child’s teeth strong and cavity-free.

Why Fluoride Matters for Kids’ Teeth

Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps prevent cavities, strengthen tooth enamel, and even reverse early signs of tooth decay. For years, many communities—including ours—relied on fluoride in tap water to do this job quietly in the background. But with the recent removal of fluoride from local drinking water, we now recommend an even better solution: topical fluoride varnish.

What Is Fluoride Varnish?

Fluoride varnish is a highly concentrated form of fluoride that’s painted directly onto the teeth. It hardens quickly, forming a protective shield over the enamel and soaking in slowly to do its work. At Families First, both our dentists and our medical team apply fluoride varnish—so your child can get protected whether you’re visiting for a well-child check or a dental cleaning.

Fast Facts:

Takes just a minute or two to apply
No discomfort and no rinsing required
Safe for children of all ages, even toddlers

Why Topical Varnish Is Better Than Fluoridated Water

We get this question a lot. The short answer? Varnish puts fluoride exactly where it’s needed—on the teeth. Unlike fluoridated water, which must pass through the whole body to have any effect on teeth, varnish is direct, immediate, and more effective.

Benefits of Fluoride Varnish:

Helps remineralize weak spots before they become cavities
Protects baby teeth and permanent teeth alike
Painless and non-invasive
Covered by most medical and dental insurance plans

How Often Should My Child Get Fluoride Varnish?

At Families First, we follow the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines:

2x per year at dental visits
2x per year at medical well-child visits

This schedule ensures your child gets the full cavity-fighting power of fluoride throughout the year—especially now that water isn’t doing the job.

Is Fluoride Safe for My Child?

Yes, absolutely. When applied topically in varnish form, fluoride is safe and effective. It doesn’t enter the bloodstream in significant amounts and poses no risk of overexposure when used as recommended.

If you’re curious or concerned, we invite you to read The Truth About Fluoride: Is It Safe for Kids?

The Bottom Line: Protecting Teeth Starts with Prevention

The loss of fluoride in Utah’s drinking water means it’s more important than ever to take an active role in your child’s oral health. Fluoride varnish is one of the safest, most effective tools we have—and it only takes a minute.

Schedule Your Dental Visit

If your child hasn’t had a fluoride varnish in the past 6 months, we encourage you to request it at your next cleaning or well-child visit.

Call or text (801) 254-9700 to schedule an appointment.

Kids three and under receive complimentary dental exams, including x-rays, cleaning, and fluoride treatment! We accept most insurance and offer $89 dental visits for self-pay patients ages four and up.

FAQs About Fluoride Varnish

At what age should fluoride varnish be applied?

As soon as your child has teeth! We typically begin varnish applications at the first dental visit, usually by 18-months.

Will my child need to avoid eating or drinking afterward?

Your child can eat soft foods and drink as usual, but we recommend waiting about 4 hours before brushing to let the varnish fully absorb.

Can my child get too much fluoride?

Not from varnish. It uses a small, controlled amount applied directly to the teeth. It’s a much lower risk than ingesting high amounts from toothpaste or supplements.

Does insurance cover fluoride varnish?

In most cases, yes. Both medical and dental insurance often cover 1–4 applications per year. We’ll help check your plan for details.