Is your toothpaste safe? The truth about fluoride

Fluoride helps in stopping demineralisation, keeps enamel intact, protects teeth from decaying, says senior developmental paediatrician Dr Sivaranjani Santosh

Hyderabad: Almost all of us use toothpaste for dental health. However, a majority of us don’t even bother to check ingredients, especially fluoride content. So, how much fluoride content is safe? Should we brush our teeth with fluoridated or non-fluoridated toothpastes? Do fluoride toothpastes cause fluorosis?

In the modern age, all major toothpastes in the market have fluoride. It is also a fact that application of the right amount of fluoride toothpaste reduces tooth decay. Fluoride is good for protection of enamel, which is the tough protective outer covering of the tooth, also commonly considered as the hardest substance in the human body. When children and adults lose enamel, then tooth decay or cavities happen.

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So how much fluoride is enough?

“I personally believe that children below six years should utilise fluoride toothpastes only if a dental doctor advises. The national standard specified for others is 1,000 ppm, which is the maximum limit of fluoride ion in fluoridated toothpastes and 50 ppm in non-fluoridated toothpastes,” says Indian Dental Association (IDA), Deccan, Dr A Srikanth.

Why a non-fluoridated toothpaste, which means a toothpaste without fluoride, can contain up to 50 ppm (parts per million) fluoride? “In our country, there are certain regions where ground water itself contains high fluoride. This means that even ingredients that are used to make toothpaste, including water, might contain traces of fluoride. That’s why, Indian standards allow 0 to 50 ppm fluoride in non-fluoridated toothpastes,” Dr Srikanth explains.

Can fluoride in toothpaste cause fluorosis?

Some influencers on social media are falsely claiming that fluoride containing toothpaste causes fluorosis. This is criminal because they are destroying the dental health of children forever with such ridiculous claims. Fluoride helps in stopping demineralisation, helps in remineralisation, keeps the enamel intact, and protects the teeth from decaying due to harmful bacteria, advises noted senior developmental paediatrician from Hyderabad Dr Sivaranjani Santosh.

The senior paediatrician points out that only a rice grain-sized smear is to be used for children below three years of age and a pea-sized amount is to be used for children above three years of age.

“Please crosscheck everything with your paediatrician or child dentist. Please don’t fall for claims that fluoride toothpastes are bad and they cause fluorosis,” Dr Sivaranjani added.