Even while we don’t always know the answers, we have some individuals on speed dial who do, which is why we have experts explain things like whether lip balm is bad and how often to wash your hair.
I speak with dentists at least once or twice a week because I have been reporting on oral health for five years. Whatever we’re talking about, fluoride always comes up. The substance, which is most frequently found in toothpaste, has extraordinary cavity-fighting properties. According to Dr. Lisa Creaven, a dentist and co-founder of Made By Dentists, it is one of the few chemicals that has ever been shown to effectively prevent cavities, which is why it is so crucial in dentistry.(Ed’s note: Creaven had no influence over the inclusion of Made By Dentists products in this article.)
However, some people are unsure if using fluoride-free toothpaste is necessary as more brands are now offering natural and chemical-free toothpastes. The dentists I spoke with said the answer was emphatically negative. Here’s why, along with all the information you require regarding fluoride in drinking water and dental supplies. Additionally, I explain how to pick the best toothpaste for both adults and children.
GO Ahead and SkipWhat is fluoride?Is toothpaste containing fluoride safe?After using fluoride toothpaste, should you rinse?The finest toothpaste with fluoride for both adults and childrenWhat is toothpaste without fluoride?Is it better to use toothpaste without fluoride?Why does drinking water contain fluoride?
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What is fluoride?
According to Dr. Matt Messina, an associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is most frequently found in water. It can also be found in plants, soil, and some foods. Although there are several forms of fluoride, three—sodium fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, and stannous fluoride—are utilized as active components in dentistry because of their comparable ability to prevent cavities.
How does fluoride benefit teeth?
You must comprehend how cavities occur in order to appreciate the benefits of fluoride for teeth.
Acid is produced by the bacteria in your mouth when you eat or drink anything, especially sweet foods and beverages. The hard outer covering of your teeth, called enamel, is weakened and dissolved by acid. Cavities, or microscopic holes in your teeth, can result from this process over time. Breaking the cycle of enamel erosion is necessary to prevent cavities, according to Messina. This is where fluoride comes into play.
“You can’t replace what’s lost because adult teeth have all the enamel they’ll ever get once they come in,” Messina explains. However, you can use fluoride-containing dental products, such as mouthwashes and toothpastes, to strengthen any residual enamel. According to Creaven, the substance strengthens enamel and increases its resistance to acid and degradation by chemically altering its crystalline structure. According to Messina, fluoride also has an antibacterial impact, which lowers the growth of bacteria and the total quantity of bacteria in the mouth.
Is fluoride toothpaste safe?
Yes, both adults and children can safely use fluoride toothpaste. The FDA establishes precise restrictions for the quantity of fluoride that toothpaste brands can add, based on the type of fluoride and the age group for whom the toothpaste is intended. You would need to ingest tube after tube of toothpaste to have a problem at low levels, which are usually between 1,000 and 1,500 parts per million, according to Creaven. According to product labels, fluoridated toothpaste is meant to be spit out, so even if you ingest a very small quantity when using it, you shouldn’t be concerned, she says.
Dr. Scott Tomar, a dentist and spokesperson for the American Dental Association, says that one of the biggest worries people have regarding fluoride in dental care and water is the development of fluorosis, which is represented by tiny white dots on tooth enamel. Only when a child’s teeth are growing beneath their gums can this happen. However, the FDA’s restrictions on the amount of fluoride that can be found in water and dental care products significantly reduce the danger of fluorosis, highlighting the ingredient’s safety.
According to Tomar, fluoride has been studied for decades by scientists and medical professionals, and data continuously demonstrates its effectiveness and safety. He claims that the absence of evidence of harmful health impacts is astounding evidence of fluoridation’s safety, given how widely it has been used for decades in many nations.
Should you rinse after using fluoride toothpaste?
Because fluoride takes time to properly take effect, dentists advise against washing your teeth right after brushing and instead advise waiting for about 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything. According to Creaven, you want to give fluoride some time to do its work.
The best fluoride toothpaste for adults and kids
Dentists told me that toothpaste bearing the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance, the gold standard for oral care products, is the best anticavity toothpaste for both adults and children. In order to receive the Seal of Acceptance, brands must provide proof that their goods fulfill strict safety and effectiveness standards. A product receives the seal after the ADA evaluates the evidence and determines that it satisfies all requirements. All of the products that currently bear the seal can be perused here.
Because fluoride’s effectiveness is so well-established, only toothpastes that contain this element are eligible to get the ADA’s Sea of Acceptance, according to Tomar. The group does not yet advise using fluoride-free toothpaste or any substitutes because the available data is too preliminary and unclear to make any firm judgments. Here are some of our top picks for ADA-approved toothpastes.
Our favorite ADA-accepted toothpaste
Colgate Cavity Protection Toothpaste
$11.98
$13.99
Amazon
$4.99
The target
$3.19
CVS Pharmacy
Crest Kids Advanced Fluoride Toothpaste
$16.23
Amazon
$3.99
The target
$5.49
CVS Pharmacy
Sensodyne Fresh Mint Sensitive Toothpaste
$12.48
Amazon
$12.49
The target
$15.79
CVS Pharmacy
Aim Cavity Protection Toothpaste
$15.40
Amazon
$8.25
Walmart
Made By Dentists Enamel Rebuilding Professional Toothpaste
$13.98
Amazon
$6.99
Target
$27.96
Made By Dentists
Hello Unicorn Sparkle Kids Fluoride Toothpaste
$14.91
Amazon
$4.99
Target
$5.79
CVS Pharmacy
Parodontax Teeth Whitening Toothpaste
$15.79
$17.49
Amazon
$15.79
CVS Pharmacy
$14.99
Walgreens
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What is fluoride-free toothpaste?
As its name implies, fluoride-free toothpaste is toothpaste without fluoride in it. It s formulated with detergents and abrasives that scrub teeth clean of dirt, grime and stuck-on food when you brush with it, but it doesn t have anticavity benefits, says Creaven.
Many fluoride-free toothpastes are made with nano-hydroxyapatite, the synthetic form of hydroxyapatite, which is a compound in tooth enamel, says Messina. Using nano-hydroxyapatite in over-the-counter dental care products is still being studied, butevidence currently showsthat it can help remineralize (add minerals back to) eroded areas on teeth, says Tomar. It doesn t chemically change the crystalline structure of enamel to make it more acid-resistant or offer antibacterial properties like fluoride does, however. That gives fluoride an advantage over nano-hydroxyapatite as far as preventing decay is concerned, says Tomar.
Should you use fluoride-free toothpaste?
The dentists I spoke to unanimously agree that you should not use fluoride-free toothpaste. If you brush twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste, floss once a day, maintain a healthy diet and regularly see your dentist, you re going to keep your teeth for a lifetime, says Messina. But if you use a fluoride-free toothpaste, you re leaving one of your best tools in the toolbox.
That said, if you opt to use fluoride-free toothpaste, you need to practice near-flawless tooth brushing and flossing, cut out as much sugar from your diet as possible and potentially visit the dentist more often, says Messina. Can you survive without fluoride? Sure, but you make your life harder, he says.
Additionally, the FDA regulates fluoride in dental products, so brands have to follow strict guidelines around marketing claims for example, all fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash must be labeled fluoride and/or anticavity. Brands can t make any anticavity claims about fluoride-free toothpaste, per the FDA, but their marketing is otherwise unregulated. Dentists say this can lead to misleading information on fluoride-free toothpastes packaging, so be extra cautious if you re shopping for it.
Why is there fluoride in drinking water?
Adding fluoride to water is very much like adding vitamins and minerals to certain foods and drinks: it s a step that helps us get the nutrients we need, says Tomar. Fluoride is a natural element found in groundwater and oceans, so when we add it to drinking water, we re adjusting it to the level that science shows will help prevent tooth decay.
The Environmental Protection Agency s current recommendation for fluoride levels in drinking water is seven parts per million. To understand how low that level is, think of it like a minute in 1,000 days, says Messina. This concentration provides the best balance of protection from dental cavities while limiting the risk of dental fluorosis, says Tomar. It would be very difficult for the average person to reach dangerous fluoride levels, even in conjunction with fluoridated toothpastes.
In most parts of the United States, communities add fluoride to water to reach the EPA s recommended level. But in some areas, the amount of fluoride in water is naturally higher than the recommended level, so some is taken out before it gets to you.
Overall, fluoridating water is one of the most studied public health measures in history, says Tomar. Fluoride in water benefits everybody, says Messina. It helps you get the benefits of fluoride without doing anything, which is great from a health equity perspective.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
-
Dr.
Matt Messina
is an associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and the clinic director of Ohio State s Upper Arlington Dentistry.
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Dr.
Scott Tomar
is a dentist and spokesperson for theAmerican Dental Association
.
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Dr.
Lisa Creaven
is a dentist and the co-founder ofMade By Dentists
.
(Ed s note: The inclusion of products sold by Made By Dentists in this article was made independently of Creaven.)
Why trust NBC Select?
I m areporter at NBC Selectwho has covered oral care since 2020, including articles about adults andkids toothpaste,floss,water flossersandteeth whitening. To write this article, I interviewed three dentists about fluoride-free toothpaste, fluoride and water fluoridation.
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