Fluoride in dental care – what is it for, and how much is enough?

What role does fluoride play in dental health?

Fluoride plays an important role in the body, particularly for teeth and bones. When taken in the right dosage, this trace element helps to maintain their strength. Fluoride also strengthens tooth enamel, thereby helping to prevent tooth decay. However, it is possible to have too much fluoride, which can turn its positive effects into the opposite and lead to health problems. In this article, we’d like to explain how fluoride works in the body, whether it is dangerous, and whether toothpaste with or without fluoride is the best choice.

What are the benefits of fluoride?

When it comes to dental health, fluoride offers a number of benefits. It supports remineralisation and is deposited in the gums so that it is immediately on hand to provide support should acid cause further demineralisation. By forming a protective film on the tooth, fluoride helps to neutralise acid before it can attack the enamel. Fluoride also inhibits acid production itself by penetrating the bacteria and disrupting their metabolism. In moderate doses, therefore, fluoride plays a crucial role in the fight against tooth decay.

In high doses, fluoride is actually toxic. In such cases, the body reacts with typical symptoms of poisoning such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. However, fluoride poisoning is very rare. More commonly observed are white lines or whitish patches on the teeth. These are signs of a mild, yet harmless, fluoride overdose, which frequently occurs in children, even without additional fluoride intake. Nevertheless, if there are signs of an excess of fluoride, it is advisable to monitor fluoride intake and reduce it where possible, as a long-term excess of fluoride can cause its beneficial properties to have the opposite effect. Over time, the strengthening effect can cause bones and teeth to harden excessively, making bones brittle and teeth once again susceptible to tooth decay. However, an insufficient intake should also be avoided, as a lack of fluoride promotes the development of tooth decay.

What is the recommended daily intake of fluoride?

For adults, the reference value for daily fluoride intake is 3.8 mg for men and 3.1 mg for women. Particular care should be taken when using fluoride with children. It is essential to use special children’s toothpaste, which contains less fluoride than fluoride-containing toothpaste for adults. Children’s toothpaste should be easy to dispense, so that excessive amounts are not accidentally used when brushing. Swallowing the toothpaste should be avoided. However, an adequate supply of fluoride is particularly important for babies and children to ensure that their teeth and bones develop properly. The WOOM Kids toothpastes, for example, offer a children’s toothpaste with an appropriate fluoride content. If your child is getting sufficient fluoride from other sources, you should use a fluoride-free toothpaste.

Should I use fluoride-free toothpaste?

Fluoride can bring significant benefits for healthy teeth and bones; however, in the worst-case scenario, it can also lead to health problems, including poisoning. It is therefore not surprising that this trace element is viewed with some scepticism. The specific effects depend heavily on the dosage. Fluoride poisoning, known as fluorosis, is, however, very unlikely in Germany. The risk of an overdose is mainly present in regions where drinking water is fluoridated. Fluoride is generally regarded as the best means of preventing tooth decay, so the decision to avoid fluoride in toothpaste should be carefully considered. SPLAT White Plus toothpaste, for example, contains 1,000 ppm of fluoride. However, anyone who still wishes to use a fluoride-free toothpaste will now find numerous alternatives, such as SPLAT Blackwood or Daun Sirih toothpaste.

Conclusion

It is clear that fluoride plays an important role in combating tooth decay and contributes to healthy bones and teeth. Nevertheless, the consequences of long-term fluoride overdose in particular should not be underestimated. Ultimately, it is the amount that matters, which is why you should take particular care, especially with children, not to expose them to too many sources of fluoride. If, for example, your child is taking fluoride tablets, you should use a fluoride-free toothpaste to avoid an overdose.