It is a protective coating that is painted on your child's teeth to help prevent cavities. It can also help areas of early decay from getting worse. Visit our website's Upcoming Events page to find the date of the next Fluoride Varnish Clinic near you.

A Registered Dental Hygienist provides a visual assessment of a child's teeth, education to the parent/caregiver on good oral health practices, and an application of fluoride varnish on the child's teeth. We hold regular fluoride varnish clinics at Central District Health Department. Visit our website's Upcoming Events page to find the date of the next Fluoride Varnish Clinic near you.

Fluoride is a mineral found in nature. There is fluoride in the ocean, in the earth's crust and in fresh water.

We will treat children from the time their first teeth erupt, to about 5 years old. Children who are enrolled in SCHIP or Idaho Smiles receive this service at no cost to them. The parents of uninsured children will be assessed fees based on a sliding fee scale. If you have questions about eligibility you can contact the program manager at 208-327-5612 or send an e-mail.

We recommend painters using alkyd resin painting mediums wait three months before varnishing. Painters using an oil and damar mix in their painting mediums should wait six months. But, if an artist has a painting that is only dry on the surface and that painting is sold, we recommend the artist varnish only with Gamvar Picture Varnish. For this purpose, thin Gamvar with approximately 20% Gamsol or other high quality Odorless Mineral Spirits (OMS) to make a very light coating.

Fluoride is an element, which has been shown to be beneficial to teeth. However, too little or too much fluoride can be detrimental to the teeth. Little or no fluoride will not strengthen the teeth to help them resist cavities. Excessive fluoride ingestion can lead to dental fluorosis, which is a chalky white to even brown discoloration of the enamel. Fluoride when applied topically either as a gel, paste or rinse helps strengthen the teeth present in the mouth.

Overwhelming evidence by the American Dental Association, US Center for Disease Control, and World Health organization has demonstrated that Fluoride has been shown to dramatically decrease the chance of getting cavities. Many of our adult patients who grew up with regular dental care and fluoride supplementation have few or no dental problems. » Return to Top

Unfortunately, there is also a large amount of conjecture and opinion on the internet that has claimed that fluoride is dangerous. At therapeutic levels there has never been a published study that has been able show reliable repeatable results that demonstrate even a possibility of any harm. Many people find all of the negative opinions very confusing.

Common sources of fluoride for people include food and drink, toothpaste and fluoride supplements such as tablets. Some countries use fluoridated salt, others fluoridated milk. The World Health Organization says fluoridated water is the most effective and safest way of providing the benefits of fluoride.

Have your pediatric dentist evaluate the fluoride level of your child's primary source of drinking water. If your child is not getting enough fluoride internally through water (especially if the fluoride level is deficient or if your child drinks bottled water without fluoride), then your pediatric dentist may prescribe fluoride supplements.