Fluoride protects your teeth from decay

On the one hand, reports that the ingestion of fluoride is dangerous appear from time to time. On the other hand, fluoride is contained in almost every toothpaste. A paradox?

No, because fluoride is anything but dangerous and very important for our dental health. The fact that fluoride unjustifiably falls into disrepute time and again is probably due to the fact that it is confused with fluorine. Fluorine is a gas that can burn our eyes and lungs even at low levels in the air. It is so dangerous because it is very reactive. This means that it reacts extremely easily with other substances. This is precisely why fluorine is almost never found in pure form, of course. Instead, fluorine exists primarily in bound form, for example with sodium as sodium fluoride in our toothpaste. Sodium fluoride is a salt that has completely different properties than the gas fluorine.

Anyone who is afraid of fluoride in toothpaste should also be afraid of table salt. Table salt contains chloride, i.e. combined chlorine, and chlorine itself, like fluorine, is a highly toxic gas.

Why fluorides are important for dental hygiene

There are three good reasons fluoride belongs in every toothpaste. First, fluoride fights bacteria in tooth enamel. This reduces the production of acids, which in turn lead to tooth decay. Second, fluoride hardens tooth enamel, making it more resistant to acid attacks. Thirdly, fluorides support the remineralization of tooth enamel.

More than 600 international studies show that fluoride-containing toothpaste helps reduce the risk of tooth decay. Dentists therefore usually do not like it when parents decide for their children to do without fluorides. Tooth decay could become a serious disease again in the future if more and more people use toothpaste without fluoride.

Some countries, such as the USA, add fluoride to drinking water to ensure an adequate supply for the population. This is not the case in Germany. However, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment advises the use of table salt containing fluoride.

Where fluorides are contained

On the one hand, fluorides can be taken internally, for example with fluoride tablets or fluoridated table salt. On the other hand, there is external application with toothpastes, jellies or mouth rinses.

Scientific studies have shown that fluorides are more effective when applied externally. Direct contact with the teeth is therefore recommended. If small children do not yet use toothpaste due to missing teeth, dentists advise them to take fluoride tablets.

From the first milk tooth until around two years of age, children should brush their teeth twice a day with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. The special children's toothpastes contain around 500ppm fluoride (milligrams per kilogram). For children from two to six years of age, there are children's toothpastes with 1000ppm fluoride. From the age of six, an adult toothpaste with at least 1000ppm fluoride can be used.

When fluoride is toxic

In large amounts, fluoride is actually harmful and can cause nausea, vomiting, or fluorosis (whitish enamel spots on the teeth). According to experts, however, fluoride poisoning can only occur when approximately 350 mg is ingested. This is roughly equivalent to the contents of three 75 ml toothpaste tubes. The fluoride content of toothpastes in Germany is limited to 0.15% (0.05% for children). According to the German Dental Association, fluoride is one of the most thoroughly investigated active substances and is even ten times less "toxic" than table salt.