A new campaign online - now against fluoride in toothpastes. Healthy lifestyle influencers are sounding the alarm: the effect of fluoride on the body is not fully understood, but it is poison. Yes, they say, it fights against the formation of caries, but if you eat right, do not eat added sugar and regularly make up for the lack of elements in the body, problems with it should not be so.
It sounds very logical and plausible, but, firstly, the percentage of those who can boast of an exceptionally healthy diet is not that large. Secondly, there are not so many fluoride-free toothpastes on the market, and their prices are above average. The question of whether this is a marketing story begs itself. Whether it's really time to go back to homemade soda mixes and avoid fluoride in pastes, like white sugar in desserts, we figured out with our experts.
Vladimir Shipkov
Dentist, chief physician Dr. SHIPKOV dental clinic
In the forties of the last century, large-scale studies were carried out in Pittsburgh (USA). They have proven that fluoride compounds have a beneficial effect on the strength and durability of tooth enamel. Since then, about 90% of toothpastes have been produced with this component in the composition. Now the situation has changed. Manufacturers of organic products for dental hygiene have completely abandoned the inclusion of fluorides in their products; fluorine-containing pastes are also found less and less in the mass market. And although it is too early to talk about the complete bike of an element, there is a steady tendency to minimize its use.
Fluoride is present in the composition of teeth and bones, and is involved in many biochemical processes. The element prevents the development of caries at the initial stage, strengthens the enamel, protects the teeth from the damaging effects of lactic acid. The useful properties of the element are undeniable, but there is also a downside to the coin.
“In its pure form, fluorine is extremely toxic,” continues Vladimir Shipkov. - 3-4 grams of sodium fluoride, if ingested, cause severe poisoning, and 5-10 grams can be fatal. These are quite large doses and you can get them from toothpaste only by eating the whole tube. But the situation is complicated by the fact that fluoride accumulates in tissues and, in addition to paste, it enters the body from water and food. An excess of fluoride in the body is fraught with dental fluorosis, anemia, osteosclerosis, enamel mottling. Against this background, scientists and doctors have decided that the risks associated with the constant use of fluoride pastes significantly outweigh the benefits they bring.
Artavazd Manukyan
Chief Physician and Founder of the AestheticA Clinic Network
Fluoride is found not only in oral care products and tap water, but also in food. In the body, fluoride is contained in tooth enamel and bones: about 2.5-3 g. Our daily need for it: 1.5-5 mg. With a lack of this element, caries forms on the teeth. In this regard, in a number of European countries and the United States, fluoride is recommended for addition to drinking water and toothpastes, as an effective means of combating caries.
The maximum allowable daily intake is 10 mg. And it is true that an excess of fluoride in the body leads to the development of many pathological processes associated with bone tissue and even the development of osteosarcomas (oncology). Therefore, dental cosmetics, which contain fluoride compounds, should be selected individually by a dentist, based on the condition of the teeth, possibly a blood test if in doubt, and, of course, according to the indications of the fluoride level in drinking water of a particular region (in Moscow areas, for example, - the content of fluorine compounds exceeds the norm).
Why brushing your teeth with soda is not worth it
When people started talking seriously about the property of fluoride to accumulate in the body, and the prices for pastes with alternative components seemed to only rise, home-made products based on baking soda and salt flashed on the Internet.
“You shouldn't brush your teeth with a mixture of soda and salt, as the too abrasive properties of these components will simply irreversibly scratch the enamel,” warns Artavazd Manukyan. - But to use good dental cosmetics for dental care is the right decision. As for home remedies, it's still difficult to make an alternative toothpaste yourself, since it's not quite the same as handmade soaps or creams for the skin of the hands or face, for example. The composition is quite complex.
“It should be understood that baking soda is one of many components in Na₂CO₃ pastes,” adds Vladimir Shipkov. - There is no scientific confirmation of the effectiveness of compresses, lotions, powders and other products based on soda alone. And yes, soda is highly abrasive, but it can really damage the enamel.
To this list of anti-toothpaste substitutes include activated charcoal, another popular ingredient in home recipes. It also scratches the enamel hard.
- I would recommend a substitute for fluoride in pastes - synthetic hydroxyapatite - advises Dr. Manukyan. - Yes, pastas with it are somewhat more expensive, but we are talking about health.
