Fluoride is a topic I discuss quite often with patients.
Fluoride does occur naturally, such as in rocks and bodies of water. It’s a mineral that has been found to prevent cavities. However, in higher doses, it has been found to cause excessive deposits of fluorine compounds in the skeleton, teeth, and sometimes ligaments. It can also weaken bones, cause kidney disease and impair brain development.
For patients who are at high risk for cavities, the situation can become life-threatening due to oral bacteria entering the blood system. For these patients, I do recommend a fluoride toothpaste, because the benefits outweigh risks.
The question regarding fluoride is case by case. Personally, I’m not a fan of prescribing ingestible fluoride tablets. However, I am not opposed to fluoridated toothpaste, which is meant to be spit out.
I chose not to put fluoride in my toothpaste tablets, because I wanted to make sure my toothpaste was nontoxic and safe for all ages, including children. Young children are more prone to adverse effects from fluoride. Since these toothpaste tablets look like candy, there would be no concern with toxicity from fluoride if large quantities are eaten.
If your child is using fluoridated toothpaste, make sure to monitor them to ensure they are not swallowing large amounts of the toothpaste.
Happi Hippo Plant Organics tablets do not contain fluoride, but thankfully they do contain natural ingredients that have clinically shown to combat against tooth decay and remineralizes teeth:
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Baking soda neutralizes acids in the mouth. An acidic mouth will cause tooth structure to weaken over time, causing susceptibility to tooth decay. Teeth are strongest when the pH in the mouth stays neutral.
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Calcium and phosphates help to remineralize teeth
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Xylitol is a sugar alcohol found naturally in some fruits & vegetables. Xylitol starves bad bacteria (cavity-causing bacteria in mouth), which is how it prevents bacterial infections.
I hope this helps anyone with questions regarding fluoride.
– Dr. Ann, Family Dentist & Founder of Hippotanicals