In the 1964 film Dr. Strangelove, a U.S. general famously warns that fluoridated water is a communist conspiracy to corrupt Americans’ “precious bodily fluids.” While the character’s paranoia was meant to be humorous, his distrust of fluoride reflects a real debate that continues to this day. Fluoride-free toothpaste has become a regular feature on pharmacy and grocery store shelves, appealing to those concerned about potential health risks. But is going fluoride-free really the best option for your teeth?
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is what’s known as a trace mineral. Trace minerals occur naturally in food, water, soil, and rock formations. And they’re essential for our overall health: If you don’t ingest enough of them, you may have to supplement your intake with pills or tablets. Important trace minerals include:
- Cobalt: Key component of vitamin B12, which is important for red blood cell creation, nerve function, and DNA synthesis
- Iodine: Regulates thyroid hormones, which help regulate metabolism and growth
- Iron: Component in hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body
- Manganese: Supports bone health, blood clotting, and the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates
- Zinc: Important for immune function, cell reproduction, and wound healing
Like these other minerals, fluoride also has an important role. It helps strengthen tooth enamel, preventing cavities and gum disease. And these are conditions you definitely want to do everything you can to prevent: There’s a connection between chronic periodontal infections and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as a variety of cardiovascular conditions.
So why is there any controversy surrounding fluoride, and why are people buying fluoride-free products? It generally comes down to a misunderstanding of what it is and its health impacts.
Now, it is possible to ingest too much fluoride, just as it’s possible to ingest too much iron or iodine. 16th-century physician Paracelsus said, “The dose makes the poison.” What this means is that nearly any otherwise safe substance can be poisonous if you have too much of it: table salt, aspirin, licorice, etc. So yes, taking very large doses of a trace mineral can have negative effects. But trace minerals are not harmful in themselves. In fact, they’re vital for your health.
Why Should I Choose Fluoridated Over Fluoride-Free Toothpaste?
Fluoride-free toothpaste can help remove plaque, but mostly because of the brushing itself. Even just using a toothbrush without any toothpaste would clean your teeth about the same. It’s the scrubbing motion that really removes the bacteria.
The problem is that fluoride-free toothpaste doesn’t have the added benefit of strengthening enamel. Fluoride toothpaste, on the other hand, does. Between drinking our fluoridated water in Dallas County and using fluoride toothpaste, you have a better chance of preventing cavities and gum disease than you might have had a century ago.
And note that you need only small amounts of fluoride in your toothpaste to strengthen your enamel:
- Children’s toothpaste (0-6 years) generally contains 1,000 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride
- Adult toothpaste contains about 1,350-1,500 ppm of fluoride
Why does children’s toothpaste contain less fluoride if fluoride is so safe? Remember, too much of anything could be harmful. If a child were to swallow a great deal of fluoride toothpaste—say, an entire tube’s worth—they could get sick or harm their developing teeth. But the recommended, tiny amount? That’s not a problem. And for an adult, it would actually be challenging to consume a dangerous amount.
Fluoride is so safe, even for children, that major health organizations support using it. These include:
- The American Dental Association (ADA)
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The benefits of fluoride toothpaste are universally recognized. Of course, fluoride can’t do everything. You may need restorations such as fillings, crowns, bridges, veneers, or dentures to correct oral health issues that have developed over time.
Is Fluoride-Free Toothpaste Any Good at All?
Some people misunderstand what fluoride is. They want to use toothpaste with “natural” ingredients, but fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral. It naturally has properties that are beneficial to human beings, so we add it to water and toothpaste, just as we add calcium and iron to certain foods.
However, some people remain fearful of fluoride, opting instead to use products containing ingredients such as baking soda, calcium carbonate, xylitol, hydroxyapatite, tea tree oil, or other alternatives. While some of these ingredients have benefits, none has been studied more extensively than fluoride.
And while charcoal toothpaste has gained popularity on social media, we recommend avoiding it altogether. Charcoal is very abrasive, so it strips away tooth enamel over time. While it may offer modest whitening benefits at first, consistent use of charcoal toothpaste can harm your teeth.
The bottom line? For most people, fluoride toothpaste is a crucial component of a comprehensive oral health prevention plan. However, if you’d like personalized advice, we’d be happy to discuss your particular needs.
Contact Us Today and Keep Your Teeth Healthy and Strong!
Fluoride, in both drinking water and toothpaste, has contributed to a significant decline in cavities. But it can’t do everything. It doesn’t totally eliminate the possibility of developing complex dental health conditions. And you still need to see a reliable dentist for root canals, gum recession treatment, and other restorative procedures.
If you’d like to talk more about the benefits of fluoride or need a dentist who will listen to your needs, please contact us today to schedule your visit. We’re here to help you feel your best, achieve optimal oral health, and smile with confidence!
