I get where you’re coming from, honestly. I remember thinking fluoride varnish sounded like overkill too—my kids were already brushing twice a day, flossing, the whole routine. But those grooves in the molars are no joke. My granddaughter had perfect checkups for years, then suddenly she needed a filling in one of those deep grooves. The dentist explained it’s just tough for brushes to reach there, even if you’re diligent. The varnish takes barely any time and you don’t have to think about it again for months. I’d rather deal with that than another surprise cavity down the road.
I hear you on the deep grooves—those molars are a pain to keep clean, especially with braces in the mix. But I honestly haven’t done the fluoride varnish myself, even though my ortho and dentist both suggested it. I know it’s quick and all, but I guess I’m just a little wary about putting extra stuff on my teeth if I’m already brushing with fluoride toothpaste and using mouthwash. Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather focus on really good brushing technique and regular cleanings.
That said, I totally get why people go for it, especially if their kids have a history of cavities. My little cousin had sealants put on instead, and that seemed to work really well for her—no new cavities since. I guess it just depends on your comfort level and what your dentist recommends. For now, I’m sticking to my routine, but I might change my mind if I start getting those “surprise” cavities too...
I get where you’re coming from—sometimes it feels like overkill when you’re already doing the whole brushing and mouthwash routine. Have you noticed any white spots or sensitivity since skipping the varnish? Just curious if you’ve seen any downside so far.
Honestly, I kinda thought the same thing at first—like, how much fluoride does one mouth actually need? But after getting braces, I started noticing those weird chalky spots near the brackets, even though I was brushing like a maniac and using mouthwash. Dentist said those are early signs of decalcification, which apparently the varnish helps prevent. I get the overkill vibe, but for me it was either deal with the sticky varnish or risk having polka-dot teeth after the braces came off. Not the look I’m going for, you know?
Honestly, I kinda thought the same thing at first—like, how much fluoride does one mouth actually need?
Totally get what you mean about the “overkill vibe.” I kept thinking, how much more can I possibly do for my kid’s teeth? But then those white spots showed up on my daughter’s front teeth after her braces came off. Dentist said the same—early decalcification. Still, I kinda wish insurance covered more of it, because that varnish isn’t cheap when you’re going every few months. Worth it? Maybe, but I wish there was a less sticky (and less pricey) option.
