A fluoride treatment for kids is a concentrated fluoride varnish, gel or foam applied to a child’s teeth at a checkup to strengthen enamel against cavities. Redondo Beach Dental Group provides it at our family office in Redondo Beach, a short drive from Torrance, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
It is one of the simplest ways to protect baby teeth. According to the CDC, fluoride varnish can prevent about one-third of cavities in baby teeth. Call (310) 542-6988 to book your child’s next checkup.
How Fluoride Protects a Child’s Teeth
Every time your child eats or drinks something sugary, bacteria in plaque turn that sugar into acid. The acid pulls minerals out of the enamel, and if that keeps happening faster than saliva can put the minerals back, a cavity forms. Fluoride helps in two ways. It helps enamel take minerals back and makes the surface harder for acid to dissolve, and it slows down the bacteria that make the acid.
Your child already gets some fluoride from toothpaste and, in many areas, from tap water. A professional treatment uses a much higher concentration for a short time. The fluoride forms a temporary layer on the enamel that is released when acid levels in the mouth rise, which is when teeth need it most.
What Happens During the Treatment
Fluoride is usually applied at the end of a routine visit, after the dental cleaning and exam for children, so it goes onto clean teeth. It comes in three forms. Varnish is a sticky coating painted onto the teeth with a small brush; it sets when it touches saliva, so your child does not need to hold anything in their mouth. Gel and foam go in a soft tray that sits over the teeth for a few minutes and is then removed.
For young children, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends unit-dose 5% fluoride varnish as the only professional fluoride treatment for children under 6, for safety reasons. Varnish comes in a small, measured dose and sets on the teeth.
Afterward, follow the instructions you are given. Often that means soft foods and cool drinks for a few hours, and waiting to brush until the evening or the next morning so the fluoride has time to work. The teeth may look slightly yellow or feel fuzzy until the varnish is brushed off.
Which Children Benefit Most
Every child can benefit from fluoride, but the dentist may recommend it more strongly, or more often, when a child:
- Has had a cavity in the last few years, or has white chalky spots on the teeth
- Snacks or sips sugary drinks often between meals, or falls asleep with a bottle, a known cause of baby bottle tooth decay
- Has deep grooves on the back teeth that trap food
- Wears braces or another appliance that makes brushing harder
- Has a dry mouth from a medication or a health condition
- Drinks mostly bottled or filtered water that has little fluoride in it
Fluoride works best alongside other prevention. Sealants are thin coatings painted onto the chewing surfaces of the back molars, and they protect the deep grooves that fluoride reaches less well. Ask about both at your child’s checkup.
When to Start and How Often
The CDC suggests asking your dentist or doctor about fluoride varnish as soon as your child’s first tooth appears. That timing lines up with your child’s first dental visit, which the AAPD recommends when the first tooth comes in and no later than the first birthday.
After that, the AAPD says children at risk for cavities should receive a professional fluoride treatment at least every six months, which is why it is often done at each checkup. The dentist will suggest a schedule based on your child’s teeth, not a fixed rule.
Is Fluoride Safe for Kids?
Professionally applied fluoride is considered safe for children when it is used in the right amount, and that is the reason the AAPD recommends measured unit doses of varnish for young children. The main risk from fluoride in childhood is swallowing too much over time while the permanent teeth are still forming. That can cause dental fluorosis, faint white streaks or spots on the enamel. In most cases it is mild and cosmetic.
Fluorosis is mostly about daily intake from swallowed toothpaste and other sources, not a treatment at the dentist twice a year. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association advise a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice from the first tooth until age 3, then a pea-sized amount from 3 to 6. Supervise brushing for children under 6, and teach them to spit the toothpaste out rather than swallow it.
Some parents have questions about fluoride, and they are fair to ask. You decide whether your child receives a treatment. If you would rather not, tell the dentist, and ask what else can lower your child’s risk, such as sealants, diet changes or more frequent checkups.
What Fluoride Treatment Costs
The cost of a fluoride treatment for a child depends on the form used and on whether it is done at a routine checkup or a separate visit. Ask for an estimate before the appointment so you know your share.
We accept PPO plans. Many dental plans cover fluoride for children as preventive care, often up to a set age, but the rules vary by plan, so ask us how your plan applies to your child’s treatment. For costs your plan does not cover, we offer payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, and an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
About the Practice
Redondo Beach Dental Group is a family practice that sees children and adults, so parents and children can be patients at the same office. Fluoride treatment is part of the dental care for children we provide alongside checkups, fillings and crowns. Dr. Moshe Eizdi leads the practice. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a fluoride treatment for kids?
The price of a fluoride treatment for kids depends on the form used and on your insurance, and many dental plans cover it for children as preventive care. Ask us for an estimate and how your plan applies to this treatment.
What age should kids get fluoride at the dentist?
Kids can start getting fluoride at the dentist when their first tooth appears. The CDC suggests asking your dentist or doctor about fluoride varnish at that point, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends varnish as the professional fluoride for children under 6.
Do dentists do fluoride treatments anymore?
Dentists still do fluoride treatments, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry continues to recommend them for children. Its guidance says children at risk for cavities should receive a professional fluoride treatment at least every six months.
Can I refuse fluoride for my child at the dentist?
A parent can refuse fluoride for a child at the dentist, since treatment needs your consent. Tell the dentist before the cleaning, and ask which other steps, such as sealants, diet changes or more frequent checkups, can help lower your child’s cavity risk.
Why do parents refuse fluoride?
Parents who refuse fluoride usually have safety concerns, often about fluorosis or about fluoride they have read about in the news. Fluorosis comes mainly from swallowing too much fluoride while permanent teeth form, which is why the AAPD recommends measured doses of varnish for young children. Bring your questions to the visit and talk them through with the dentist.
How long after a fluoride treatment can a child eat?
How long a child should wait to eat after a fluoride treatment depends on the form used, so follow the instructions you are given at the visit. After varnish, soft foods and cool drinks are often fine soon afterward, while hard, sticky or hot foods and brushing wait for several hours.
How is fluorosis treated?
Fluorosis is often left untreated, because mild fluorosis shows as faint white marks that do not harm the tooth. When the marks are more noticeable, cosmetic options such as whitening, bonding or veneers can improve how the teeth look once a child is older. A dentist can tell you whether any treatment is worth considering.
Book a Fluoride Treatment in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online, and mention that you would like fluoride added to your child’s checkup.