Fluoride Varnish Post-Treatment Care | Dentist Davidson, NC (2024)

FAQs

What are the postoperative instructions for fluoride varnish? ›

To allow the fluoride varnish to work well you should not eat, drink or brush your teeth for at least 30 minutes after having the fluoride varnish applied to your teeth. You should only eat soft foods and liquids during the first four hours after having the fluoride varnish application.

Your dentist will provide you post-treatment guidelines and any specific instructions to follow. In general, patients are advised to wait 30 minutes after a fluoride treatment before eating or drinking. This 30-minutes allows time for the fluoride treatment to seal to the teeth.

Your child had fluoride varnish placed over the treated areas to extend the period of time the medication is retained on the teeth. 6. If you notice any stains on your child's skin, it will exfoliate on its own in 10- 14 days. You can use an exfoliant to accelerate stain removal such as (salt/water slurry, soap/water).

Can I eat, drink or brush my teeth normally after fluoride varnish is applied? Wait until the next day to brush teeth, and avoid hot, hard or sticky foods after the fluoride varnish application. Hard or chewy foods might chip the varnish off.

Avoid any other over-the-counter fluoride-containing product such as toothpaste, mouthwash, rinses, etc. Avoid taking hard or crunchy foods. Avoid hot beverages.

Do not starve yourself simply because you have undergone a fluoride treatment near you. However, your dentist will recommend waiting for at least 30 minutes before you eat or drink anything. You must also be careful about what you eat, allowing the fluoride to seal your teeth properly.

Stick with water that is lukewarm and only drink after the initial 30-minute waiting period has passed. Avoid hot liquids and dark liquids like coffee or tea for four to six hours to ensure enough time has passed for the fluoride to provide the full benefit.

Answer: Fluoride varnish is safe. It is used on babies from the time they have their first tooth. Because the varnish is painted onto teeth and only a very small amount is used, almost no fluoride is swallowed.

What are the side effects of fluoride varnish? ›

Over the 10-year period, only 65 AEs were reported for fluoride varnish products. Swelling (33.8%); burning, itching, or soreness (23.1%); and rash (16.9%) were the most common signs and symptoms reported. The most common site reported was the lips (27.7%).

A salad or sandwich that is not too crunchy or crusty, yogurts, eggs and cheese will all make a great post cleaning lunch! Make sure you also avoid any sugary beverages or any that could stain your teeth. Coffee and tea and sodas should be skipped.

Fluoride rinses are also almost equally effective in exposing the teeth to fluoride every day. Fluoride varnish doesn't appear to save costs in preserving the milk teeth, but may do so if used to preserve permanent teeth in a high-risk setting or if used by persons other than professional dental care providers.

In some cases, it can be from 4-6 hours; in others, our dentist may recommend leaving it on overnight.

If this is the scenario, there is a chance that your teeth might be sensitive. Fluoride varnish contains a higher fluoride concentration than tap water, toothpaste, and food. Therefore, you will need to wait for about six hours before you take alcohol or any hot drink or use a mouthwash.

Fluoride varnishes adhere to the teeth for hours, and no waiting period is required. You may eat or drink immediately following its application. If you have received an application of fluoride varnish to your teeth, wait until bedtime to brush your teeth.

It is recommended that you do not eat or drink anything hot enough to melt it off the teeth for 2-4 hours following treatment, nor should you eat hard, crunchy foods or chew gum for 2 hours after, as that can remove it from the teeth. Water is fine to drink immediately after as water helps it to “set up” on the teeth.