Should your Toothpaste contain Fluoride?

Fluoride is a natural mineral that is present in drinking water and various food items. You should also know that toothpaste manufacturers also use fluoride when manufacturing toothpastes. There have been various reports that fluoride is bad for teeth and many people are switching to non-fluoride and natural toothpastes. But is fluoride so harmful? Should your toothpaste contain fluoride?

The biggest advantage of fluoride is that it strengthens the enamel that forms the surface of our teeth. With stronger enamel, we can avoid tooth decay to a large extent. Apart from this, fluoride is also responsible for reducing the amount of acid that teeth bacteria produce. In children, when their teeth are developing, fluoride ensures that they have shallower grooves in their teeth. As a result, plaque can be easily removed from their teeth.

However, while fluoride has so many positives attached to it, too much of it is not good. The water that we drink contains fluoride in different degrees. Where there is fluoride in the water, if we use fluoride toothpaste, it adds that extra protection to our teeth and reduces the chance of dental decay. However, the amount of fluoride that our teeth our exposed to should be controlled. It has been proven that children up to the age of 3 years should use toothpastes that have fluoride level of at least 1,000 ppm. When they are more than 3 years old, the amount of fluoride in their toothpastes should go up to 1,350 to 1,500 ppm.

Parents need to be careful about the amount of fluoride contained in their children’s toothpastes. Nowadays, most of the dental products for children recommend that the amount of toothpaste used should be pea sized and no more. When this amount if adhered to, the chances of fluoride harm is greatly reduced.

It has been also proved that children living in non-fluoridated areas have 5 times more dental decay than those exposed to fluoride. Adding fluoride to water in non-fluoridated areas helps in taking care of this issue. Once in a while, it is also worthwhile visiting a dentist who can fluoridate teeth. They use fluoride gels that are much more concentrated and need not be used very often. Even adults benefit from these gels. Dentists also recommend fluoride supplements and fluoride toothpastes to get the right level of fluoride in our teeth.

However, fluoride supplements and fluoride toothpastes should only be used at the discretion of your doctor. Too much fluoride can cause dental fluorosis. Too much fluoride in toothpastes or when toothpaste is swallowed can cause fluorosis. Dental fluorosis appears as pearly lines or flecking on the tooth surface. It causes the enamel to become pitted and discolored.

The conclusion – our toothpaste should contain fluoride but in controlled proportions. While it is essential for our teeth, too much of it can also cause side effects. Make sure you buy the right toothpaste that has a proper fluoride percentage. This is the best way to keep our teeth healthy and shining.