Is fluoride varnish good for preventing cavities in children? How much does it cost? Until when is it recommended to have it done?

My son has developed 7 to 8 cavities, and my daughter is starting to get cavities too.

They recommended fluoride varnish application at the dentist.

 

Fluoride varnish application... It would be good to do it, right?

 

Looking into fluoride application, it is said that fluoride treatment is performed to prevent cavities (dental caries).

Caries is a disease caused by bacteria, so bacterial growth on teeth occurs after bacteria adhere to the surface of the teeth using ingested fermentable carbohydrates.

 

This bacterial mass formed in this way is called, so to speak, dental plaque (dental biofilm or oral biofilm).

Bacteria living in this plaque decompose carbohydrates in food, producing acids such as lactic acid.

This mountain causes the tooth surface to decay, leading to cavities.

The outermost layer of the tooth is called enamel, which is made up of the hardest tissue in the human body.

Enamel determines the shape and outline of the tooth and protects it from breaking under the pressure of chewing food. The acids produced by bacteria that cause cavities can dissolve this enamel. This process is called demineralization.

Conversely, the process of restoring demineralized areas of the mouth caused by calcium and other factors is called remineralization (remineralization, remineralization).

Fluoride is said to be a representative ion that helps with such remineralization.

 

The role of fluoride application is...

When fluoride ions penetrate the enamel during fluoride application, the crystal structure of the enamel becomes stabilized, and

This stabilized crystal structure becomes resistant to the acids produced by dental caries bacteria, thereby preventing tooth decay.

During the tooth formation stage, fluoride bonds with the tooth structure to make the dentin more solid.

When fluoride is applied to the surface of the tooth, it accumulates on the outermost layer of the enamel and increases resistance to acids produced by bacteria that cause dental caries.

Plaque or saliva acts as a reservoir for fluoride ions, gradually releasing fluoride ions into the oral cavity to help harden the surface of the teeth.

Fluoride naturally has an antibacterial effect, which helps prevent the formation of bacterial colonies that cause dental caries...

 

Fluoride really plays a role in preventing cavities and slowing down the progression of tooth decay.

There is also a method of brushing with a small amount of fluoride.

But this... it seems okay for adults from around elementary middle school age, but I think young children in kindergarten might find it difficult, haha.

Then...

How much does fluoride application cost?

And up to what age is it good to apply fluoride varnish to children?

How often should fluoride treatments be applied?

 

I keep saying I should do it, I should do it...

I've been postponing it, and I'm really 고민입니다.