this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2024
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Science Memes

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flouride (mander.xyz)
submitted 2 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (4 children)

The question is: does it make sense to buy toothpaste with fluoride then or can I buy one without? Just because my kids don't like the peppermint ones and other flavours are most of the times without fluoride

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Non-fluoridated toothpaste is mainly for kids who are too young to be able to consistently spit it all out. The concentration of fluoride in toothpaste is high enough that you shouldn't be swallowing it, because doing that on the regular is harmful to your teeth. Gray discoloration is one of the first symptoms.

If your kids are capable of doing "rinse and spit," then they should be using fluoridated toothpaste.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

And even then, there's a significant safety margin worked into the advice that you shouldn't swallow toothpaste. You'd need to eat several tubes of prescription strength toothpaste to get sick from fluoride.

Still rinse and spit though

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Absolutely true - and I just remembered, even if your kids are little and using non-fluoridated toothpaste, you should still be using this time to teach them rinse and spit.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

What is this rinse? You are supposed to leave the toothpaste on your teeth iirc. No water rinse.

Edit sorry realized this comes off harsh but not sure how to fix it. Lmao

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

With you having to judge millions of children, that you need to get high just to stay sane; you get a pass.

But there is a general recommendation to not eat or drink for 15-30min after brushing to give enough time for the fluoride to bind to any exposed enamel surfaces. It's also better to use a fluoridated mouthrinse over water, if getting the grittyness is what you're after.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago

Always buy flouride toothpaste.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Fluoridated toothpaste is more effective than drinking water. The fluoride works by direct contact with the enamel. Another reason it doesn't make sense to put it in drinking water.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago

Fluoride in the water is beneficial in the pre-eruptive phase (when teeth are still growing). Fluoride ingestion increases tooth resistence to cavities if the ingestion happened while they were growing.

This does mean that fluoride in water isn't really useful after you have all your permanent teeth though.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

For other toothpaste that still strengthens enamel, there is toothpaste with hydroxyapatite (which can be ingested, at least that specific ingredient). Though it is probably more expensive.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Unfortunately hydroxyapatite is not approved for dental use in the United States of America.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I mean you can buy it here in a normal store. So I'm not sure if you mean a dentist can't use/provide it, or if you're thinking about the nano forms of it.

Edit, just saw this:

the FDA regulates dental products like toothpaste as cosmetics rather than therapeutic agents for cavity prevention

Interestingly, many ingredients used in dental care, including fluoride, are employed off-label. This means they are used in ways not officially approved by the FDA but are still considered effective based on scientific evidence and clinical practice