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What to know about fluoride in toothpaste

What to Know About Fluoride in Toothpaste

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that people add to water, food, and other products. Many toothpastes contain fluoride as it has benefits for protecting tooth health. Too much fluoride can pose risks to health, but the amounts contained in toothpaste are generally safe if a person uses the toothpaste as advised.

 

Toothpaste is an important part of good oral hygiene. Many toothpastes contain fluoride, a mineral that is naturally found in soil and rocks. This article examines what fluoride is and what is it’s utility to add to toothpaste, also covers the benefits and risks of fluoride and tips for choosing the best toothpaste.

 

Toothpaste ingredients

 

Toothpaste’s main job is to help control dental plaque, a thin layer that forms on teeth after eating sugars. The bacteria in plaque break down tooth enamel, cause decay, and lead to cavities.

 

People use toothpaste with a toothbrush to gently sweep away plaque and other debris from their teeth. All toothpastes share some common ingredients:

 

  • Abrasives such as calcium carbonate. These remove anything sticking to the surface of the teeth without scratching them.
  • Binders like stearate
  • Foaming agents like sodium cocoyl isethionate
  • Fluoride, which strengthens enamel and prevents cavities
  • Flavors like spearmint, peppermint, or menthol or tangerine or clove
  • Sweeteners, including sorbitol or xylitol
  • Anti-sensitivity agents including strontium chloride or potassium nitrate

 

What is fluoride and why is it in toothpaste?

 

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral which exists in:

 

  • soil, rocks, water, many foods

It is an important part of tooth development in children under the age of 7, as it strengthens developing enamel. In children and adults, it also slows down the acid-producing capability of plaque, which protects teeth from decay.

 

In many cities and countries, local authorities add fluoride to the drinking water, which has been shown to reduce tooth decay by at least 25%. Fluoride toothpaste provides an additional layer of protection against dental decay and plaque build up.

 

Benefits of Fluoride

 

Fluoride protects teeth against decay by helping strengthen developing enamel and slowing acid production of bacteria caused by plaque.

 

Fluoride protects teeth against a process called demineralization. This occurs when bacteria combine with sugars to create acid that erodes the tooth.

 

Further, fluoride promotes remineralization. This process brings calcium and phosphate ions to the tooth to create to new surface area which is acid resistant.

 

Risks

 

Too much fluoride can lead to dental fluorosis. Fluorosis is a condition that produces a change in the color of tooth enamel. This discoloration usually manifests as white or sometimes brown spots.

 

Fluorosis usually occurs when children who are in the teeth forming years swallow toothpaste rather than spitting it out. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the teeth forming years are before the age of 8.

 

Most cases of dental fluorosis are very mild to mild. In moderate to severe cases, more noticeable and extensive enamel changes happen, including dark spots and pits in the teeth.

 

The risk of getting too much fluoride from toothpaste is low and primarily a risk for children, who are more likely to swallow toothpaste.

 

To reduce the risk of dental fluorosis parents should:

 

  • supervise children under age 6 to discourage swallowing toothpaste
  • use teeth-a-bit Multi-Protection perfect dosage toothpaste tablets. Each tablet is a perfect dose with optimal 500 PPM of max available fluoride to ensure that kids don’t overdose on their toothpaste and thus ingest any fluoride during accidental swallowing of toothpaste
  • consult with a doctor or dentist about the use of fluoride toothpaste for children under 2 years of age. Typically a rice-sized amount of toothpaste is OK for children under 2.

Also Read: How to select the best natural mouthwash?

Chronic exposure to high levels of fluoride can also lead to skeletal fluorosis. This occurs when fluoride builds up in bones, causing stiffness and pain. In the most severe cases, ligaments can calcify, causing pain and trouble moving. Typically this is a problem in areas with naturally occurring high levels of fluoride in drinking water.

 

Is fluoride safe?

While fluoride in toothpaste is generally considered safe, there is a larger, ongoing discussion of overall fluoride intake, from water, food, mouthwashes, and other sources.

 

The International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), which advocates against the use of added fluoride in water and products, lists the following health problems which it associates with fluoride consumption:

  • acne
  • cardiovascular problems, including high blood pressure, cardiac insufficiency, and myocardial damage
  • diabetes
  • low fertility rates and early puberty in girls
  • osteoarthritis, temporomandibular joint disorder, and bone cancer
  • immune system complications
  • lower IQ
  • cognitive deficits, attention deficity hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and neurological deficits
  • thyroid dysfunction

 

One 2016 study of children in Mexico found that higher levels of fluoride exposure before birth could result in lower cognitive abilities for babies when tested at ages 4 and 6–12. Researchers tested fluoride levels in 299 pregnant women, and in their children at ages 4 and 6-12. The results suggested a link between high levels of fluoride in the mothers and lower IQ scores in their children.

 

But other researchers who evaluated this study said the fluoride level used was double or triple the level found in drinking water in the United States. Researchers also failed to take into account other factors that could have contributed to lower IQ scores in the study.

 

Researchers evaluating other health concerns have also found problems with unreliable data and poor study design.

 

Overall, researchers have determined that studies linking major health conditions with fluoride are unreliable.

 

Fluoride has been used in drinking water for 75 years and research has proven its safety. As with many substances, too much can lead to problems such as fluorosis, but the right amount can provide important dental protection and minimal negative health effects

 

Choosing the best toothpaste

There are so many toothpaste options to choose from it can be difficult for people to determine which one is the right one for them.

 

The first question to ask is if someone wants toothpaste that contains fluoride. Our brand, teeth-a-bit, only produces toothpaste bits for Adults (13+) and Kids (5-12 Years) with fluoride up to 1000 PPM and 500 PPM respectively.

 

If the choice is to purchase a fluoride toothpaste, children above 5 and older should use toothpaste with a fluoride level of 500 parts per million (ppm)

 

Beyond that, choose a toothpaste based on any personal preferences or specific dental needs. Whitening teeth, addressing tooth sensitivity, controlling tartar, and choosing different flavorings are all options.

 

A person should look at the ingredient label to ensure the product does not contain anything that would cause an allergic reaction.

 

 

Summary

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in soil, rocks, and water. It is a powerful tool in protecting teeth against decay and helping remineralize dental surfaces.

 

Toothpaste with fluoride is a popular option to protect teeth and fight plaque. It is widely available and generally a safe option, as long as someone spits it out.

 

Parents should supervise children’s use of toothpaste to ensure they do not swallow it. Ingesting too much fluoride during early tooth development can lead to fluorosis, which causes white or brown spots on teeth.

 

When purchasing fluoride toothpaste, look for teeth-a-bit plant based fluoride toothpaste bits that are science backed and made with many other natural ingredients

 

Tags : Medicalnewstoday