Fluoride toothpaste

[verde]

So I just returned from the dentist and the hygienist talked to me about using fluoride toothpaste. She said she knows about the arguments against fluoride but stated she's talking about topical fluoride, not ingesting it. I did a search and found tons of stuff about the problems with fluoridating water. Fine. But most of the stuff I found about topical fluoride is positive. Even the people opposed to ingested fluoride state that topical fluoride can help prevent cavities and strengthen tooth enamel as long as it's not ingested. Yes, some small children have died in a dentist's office but that's because they ate whole tubes of fluoride toothpaste. The connection to thyroid problems is with the fluoridated water.

So does anyone know of any research about topical fluoride?

[Panserbjorne]

before even getting in to that, I'd wonder what *exactly* the threshold is. I mean you can't possibly have something in your mouth without absorbing it. So how much is too much? Where do you draw the line?


I'm opposed to ingested fluoride and I'm in complete disagreement that there's anything positive about topical fluoride, but that's just me. I think that excellent nutrition and absorption can increase the likelihood of healthy teeth and that's about it. I also know my views aren't mainstream.

[organicmidwestmama]

a dentist i recently met with says he doesn't use any floride in his practice because in his 20 years of dental experience he has never seen it help reverse or stop cavities. at least here in the USA people have been using flouridated pastes, mouth washes, floss and drinking flouridated water for decades and yet the rates of decay are increasing. this clearly says to me that flouride is not the magical answer.

[SwanMom]

My family doesn't use fluoride toothpaste because a small amount of toothpaste is always ingested (or absorbed by the bloodstream). For me, it's just a risk I'd rather not take if I don't have to.

More info here: http://www.fluoridealert.org/f-sources.htm

[MountainMamaGC]

Fair enough. But would you rinse your mouth out with any other poison, just because you werent going to swallow it?

I havent used fluoride in over 2 years now and I have not had any cavities. DD has never used any fluoride her entire life and she is also fine. So for us, its not necessary. The dentist doesnt even bat an eye when we decline it.

[verde]

Thanks for the responses.

Swanmom, I went to that website and it's about ingested fluoride, not topical fluoride.

organicmidwesternmama, I appreciate your dentist's point of view. The argument made to me did not address the issue of cavities; it was actually that topical fluoride strengthened the enamel of the tooth. Fluoride is part of the structure of bones and teeth.

Lydiah, fluoride is not a poison per se unless one overdoses on it. Children have overdosed and died from ingesting too many vitamins when they ate an entire bottle of vitamins because they tasted yummy. Every one of us has fluoride in our bones and teeth.

I'm not trying to argue FOR the use of topical fluoride. I'm looking for good scientific evidence that argues against it. So far I haven't found any and I've looked extensively.

[Panserbjorne]

Originally Posted by verde

Thanks for the responses.

Swanmom, I went to that website and it's about ingested fluoride, not topical fluoride.

organicmidwesternmama, I appreciate your dentist's point of view. The argument made to me did not address the issue of cavities; it was actually that topical fluoride strengthened the enamel of the tooth. Fluoride is part of the structure of bones and teeth.

Lydiah, fluoride is not a poison per se unless one overdoses on it. Children have overdosed and died from ingesting too many vitamins when they ate an entire bottle of vitamins because they tasted yummy. Every one of us has fluoride in our bones and teeth.

I'm not trying to argue FOR the use of topical fluoride. I'm looking for good scientific evidence that argues against it. So far I haven't found any and I've looked extensively.

I'm going to disagree with this statement unless you're looking at sources, which most people do not. There are different kinds of fluoride, some more toxic than others. I do hear your frustration though...I agree. It's really a hard topic to find solid, unbiased information on.

[SwanMom]

Originally Posted by verde 

Swanmom, I went to that website and it's about ingested fluoride, not topical fluoride.
 

uh huh.  And a small amount of fluoride toothpaste is ingested when you brush.  It's a small amount, but it's daily.