Cylindrical enamel blocks with initial carious lesions were treated for one hour with Duraphat or Fluor-Protector. After removal of the fluoride varnishes the enamel blocks were kept in the mouths of 3 probands for 5 days. Plaque was allowed to accumulate on half of the enamel cylinders, while the other half was kept clean. Part of the enamel cylinders were retained as fluoridated controls. Compared with Duraphat the application of Fluor-Protector resulted in a significantly higher uptake of KOH soluble and firmly bound fluoride. During the 5 days of the experiment the amount of KOH soluble fluorides decreased in both groups. In the presence of plaque the fluoride loss was higher. The amount of firmly bound fluoride increased both in the plaque covered and in the clean enamel. The durable cariostatic effect of fluoridated varnishes seems to be due to the slow dissolution of Ca F2-like precipitates on the enamel surface and the concomitant fluoride uptake in the underlying demineralized enamel.