---
title: "What Is Fluoride varnish? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "Fluoride varnish is a sticky, concentrated fluoride coating that a dentist or hygienist paints onto teeth to help strengthen enamel and guard against cavities."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/fluoride-varnish
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Materials

# Fluoride varnish

Fluoride varnish is a sticky, concentrated fluoride coating that a dentist or hygienist paints onto teeth to help strengthen enamel and guard against cavities.

Fluoride varnish is brushed onto clean teeth in a few minutes. It sets quickly on the tooth surface and releases fluoride over several hours. Fluoride helps enamel resist acid from plaque. It is often used for children, and for adults who get cavities easily or have exposed root surfaces. The ADA says a dentist may recommend fluoride varnish as a cavity-fighting supplement to the fluoride your child gets from other sources. You usually avoid hard, sticky, or hot foods for a short time afterward. Your dentist will tell you what to expect. It is one kind of [fluoride treatment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/fluoride-treatment). Read about [enamel](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/enamel) and [tooth decay](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/tooth-decay), or our page on [dentistry for kids](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/dentistry-for-kids).

[Town Center Dental can helpDentistry for Kids](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/dentistry-for-kids)

## Related terms

-   [Fluoride treatment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/fluoride-treatment)
-   [Enamel](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/enamel)
-   [Tooth decay](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/tooth-decay)
-   [Remineralization](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/remineralization)
-   [Silver diamine fluoride](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/silver-diamine-fluoride)

## Sources

1.  [ADA MouthHealthy: Baby Teeth](https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/baby-teeth)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)