Fluoride Free Toothpaste: Fact or Fiction?

In the decades since industrialized nations began putting fluoride in their drinking water and their toothpaste, cavity rates in the general population have dropped dramatically. However there are still many people who chose fluoride free toothpaste. In fact, estimates are that every $1 spent on fluoridation saves about $120 in dental care costs down the road. That's because fluoride keeps teeth strong and solid by keeping key minerals from leaching out of the tooth enamel.

Exposure to a small amount of fluoride on a daily basis is enough to keep most children and adults cavity-free. It's especially helpful in preventing cavities around the gum line. Fluoridated drinking water also has been widely endorsed by most major health organizations around the world for the past 50 years.

Fluoride by itself comes from fluorine, which is the earth's 13th most abundant element. It occurs naturally in the environment, in both water and air. Community water fluoridation, begun in most industrialized countries in the middle of the last century, involves adding extra fluoride to adjust the natural fluoride found in a community's water supply to bring it up to a level recommended for optimal dental health. This level is approximately 1.0 ppm (parts per million). One ppm in turn equals 1 milligram per liter, or 1 inch out of 16 miles.

Like all public health measures, there are some who have concerns about the addition of fluoride in drinking water. The answer to some of the more common misconceptions, listed here, is an emphatic "no." Specifically, there is no increase in cancer rates in communities with fluoridated water; fluoridation does not cause a decrease in bone health; and fluoride itself is not a poison. Nor is the fluoride added to drinking water obtained from the waste products of the phosphate fertilizer or aluminum manufacturing industries. Finally, the amounts of fluoride in water and commercial dental products are low enough that even a person who takes in fluoride in his water, air, toothpaste, mouthwash and food won't receive a harmful amount.

Where fluoride can cause a concern is with children. When a child's adult teeth are developing, too much fluoride can produce discoloration on the tooth enamel, usually in the form of white, yellow or brown spots. The condition is known as fluorosis, and while it does not indicate fluoride poisoning, it can be a cosmetic concern. Because of this, it's recommended that children under two not use toothpaste at all, and children under seven should use only a small, pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Further, parents should supervise their child whenever he brushes his teeth, in order to help him learn proper technique and also to make sure he is not sucking extra toothpaste from the tube. Once a child is over age 7, fluoride consumption is no longer considered a threat.

Finally, for adults and children over age 7, the best way to stay cavity-free is by drinking fluoridated water and using a high quality dental product, such as OraMD®, twice daily. If the risks concern you, use a fluoride free toothpaste and eliminate the concern of fluoride in toothpaste.