Toothpaste and Fluoride
Whenever you shop for toothpaste, you should first look to ensure that label carries the IDA seal of approval. This seal is issued by Indian Dental Association. It means that the toothpaste is approved for safety and effectiveness.
One of the guidelines of IDA seal of approval is that the toothpaste contain fluoride. This is because IDA fully supports the fact that fluoride is essential for healthy teeth. Some of the other ingredient found in toothpaste include:
i) Potassium Nitrate: A desensitizing agent that helps those who suffer from sensitive teeth.
ii) Triclosan: A common anti-microbial ingredient in toothpaste that reduces gingivitis and tartar.
iii) Zinc Citrate: A microbial ingredient that works with Triclosan to protect against tartar.
iv) Sulphates: Foaming agents that include Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Sodium Lauryl Succinate.For many, sulphates can be irritating to their gums, tongue, and the skin around the mouth.
a. While most think fluoride is the reason for irritation, but the sulphates are irritating to the oral tissues.
b. Studies found that when mouth sufferers stopped using sulphates free toothpaste there is a sixty percent decrease in symptoms.
V) Abrasives: Calcium carbonates, aluminium oxides, magnesium carbonate, they all are abrasives and help to remove bacteria from teeth. They also help in whitening teeth by removing surface stains.
Which type of toothpaste is more beneficial?
The single most important part of brushing is mechanically removing the plaque from the tooth.
i) Toothpaste having fluoride: make tooth less vulnerable to decay.
ii) Fluoride free toothpaste: mouth feels fresh with the use of various flavours.
Fluoride containing toothpaste offers both the above benefits, but fluoridefree toothpaste only offers the later.
Fluoride toothpaste not recommended for kids younger than six years.
How fluoride helps?
Fluoride is a mineral found naturally in soil, water and food.
i) Fluoride fights the first stage of tooth decay which is the demineralisation process.
ii) If you already have demineralization but do not have cavity, the fluoride helps in remineralization and helps in preventing dental cavity.
iii) The presence of normal fluoride can attract other minerals such as calcium. Calcium is good for our bones and helps maintain our teeth along with a strong healthy structure.
iv) But the larger amount of fluoride can be toxic.
What are the negative effects of Excess fluoride?
i) Tooth Discoloration: A discoloration that happens during the tooth forming year sleaves white spots / streaks on the tooth surface. In severe cases it leads to yellowish or brownish teeth as a result of excessive fluoride.
ii) Tooth decay. High intake of fluoridated water can lead to weakening of enamel.
Fluoride containing toothpaste or Fluoride free toothpaste, no matter how good they taste they are not meant to be swallowed.
Acceptable normal fluoride:
In drinking water is 0.5 – 1.0 ppm (parts per million).
In toothpaste it is 1000-1500 ppm (parts per million).
You can schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Seema Bansal for more informantion.
Well covered ! Thankyou for this information.
Very informative Thanks
Thankyou Priti for finding it informative.
Very nice information in a clear and lucid language .
Thankyou Mr. Ramesh
Very informative covering major aspects of dental care. Thanks.
Thankyou Mrs. Shanti
Very informative!
Thankyou Sneha
Thank you Dr Seema for this nice article. We were not aware about the importance of fluoride while selecting our toothpastes. Your blogs and writings cover so many critical issues related to oral hygiene and we were not really aware about any one of them. My family looks forward to your monthly blogs.
Thankyou Ahaan
Very informative 👏
Thankyou Garima
Thank you Dr Seema for such a informative write-up. More articles are expected from you. Keep doing the good job
Thankyou Dr. Madhavi