Do teeth need fluoride?
If you ask anyone about the ingredients in regular toothpaste, the only answer you will hear is fluoride. This word also comes up frequently when we go to the dentist or see advertisements for various oral care products. But do we really need fluoride? How much is needed?
Fluoride is added to toothpaste because it can help chemically strengthen teeth and prevent tooth decay caused by acids from bacteria in dental plaque. Fluoride helps with demineralization and remineralization, thereby protecting teeth. But it is important to note that too much fluoride can cause dental fluorosis or skeletal fluorosis.
In addition to toothpaste, you can also find it in most mouthwash products and some brands of dental floss.
Why add fluoride to water?
As the title suggests, fluoride is naturally present in water, but the fluoride content is usually increased to varying degrees through a process called fluoridation. Water authorities came up with a clever idea to reduce tooth decay in a cost-effective way. However, adding fluoride is somewhat negative due to possible health effects.
How much fluoride should I take?
The answer depends on many factors, such as: B. Your age and gender. It is also affected by where in the world you live, as water supplies in different areas have different fluoride levels.
The average adult should consume 3 to 4 mg per day, but again, this is not an exact amount and should be considered based on your age and gender (males should consume more, children should consume less).
However, this number is based on your internal consumption when not using toothpaste (never swallow toothpaste!), so this all needs to be considered in the context of your diet, and you should never exceed the recommended dose.
The easiest way to ensure your mouth is adequate is to brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. You should also make sure you brush long enough, i.e. two minutes.
What about non-fluoride toothpaste?
We generally recommend avoiding these, as they do not help prevent cavities. While they can help whiten teeth or make your mouth fresher, the main reason we brush our teeth is to prevent cavities. We recommend brushing teeth whitening powder with activated charcoal onto your teeth to remove stains. However, we also recommend brushing with regular toothpaste, as it is not a replacement for toothpaste. It’s a natural addition to your oral care.
