Yes, you should use fluoride toothpaste, because it strengthens your enamel and is one of the most effective ways to protect your teeth from decay at home.
For most adults, brushing twice a day with a toothpaste containing 1,350 to 1,500 ppm (parts per million) of fluoride gives the best protection.
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Key Points
Fluoride toothpaste helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening enamel and repairing the earliest signs of damage.
Most adults should use a toothpaste with 1,350 to 1,500 ppm fluoride, while young children need a smaller amount.
Spitting out after brushing, rather than rinsing with water, keeps more fluoride on your teeth.
How Does Fluoride Toothpaste Protect Your Teeth?
Fluoride toothpaste protects your teeth by making the enamel stronger and more resistant to the acids that cause decay. Every time you eat or drink something sugary, the bacteria in plaque produce acid.
This acid draws minerals out of your enamel and slowly weakens it.
Fluoride helps to put those minerals back. It also makes the enamel tougher, so it copes better with the next time you consume something acidic. In the very early stages, fluoride can even help repair small areas of damage before they turn into a cavity.
Does Fluoride Toothpaste Really Work?
Yes, fluoride toothpaste really works, and decades of research support it. A Cochrane review of 70 trials, involving more than 42,000 children, found that fluoride toothpaste reduced tooth decay by 24% compared with toothpaste without fluoride.
Decay is still very common in adults too. The Adult Oral Health Survey 2023 found that 64% of adults in England had decay in at least one tooth when the most sensitive measure was used.
What Strength of Fluoride Toothpaste Should I Use?
Most adults should use a toothpaste containing 1,350 to 1,500 ppm fluoride, which you will find printed on the back of the tube.
UK guidance in Delivering Better Oral Health recommends:
Children up to 6 years old: at least 1,000 ppm fluoride, with a smear of toothpaste for under 3s and a pea-sized amount from age 3
Children aged 7 and over: 1,350 to 1,500 ppm fluoride
Adults: 1,350 to 1,500 ppm fluoride
The strongest toothpaste you can buy over the counter in the UK contains 1,500 ppm. If you are at higher risk of decay, your dentist can prescribe a stronger toothpaste.
Is Fluoride Toothpaste Safe?
Yes, fluoride toothpaste is safe when it is used as directed. The amount of fluoride in toothpaste is small, and the benefits for your teeth far outweigh the risks. The main thing to watch is that young children do not swallow toothpaste or use too much.
Too much fluoride while children's teeth are still forming can cause faint white marks on the enamel, known as fluorosis. This is why parents should help with brushing until around the age of 7 and use the right amount of toothpaste.
How Should I Use Fluoride Toothpaste?
You should use fluoride toothpaste twice a day for about two minutes, and always last thing at night.
To get the most from it:
Brush last thing at night and at one other time during the day
Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste
Spit out the excess, but do not rinse with water
If you use a mouthwash, use it at a different time of day to brushing
Brushing at night matters because your mouth makes less saliva while you sleep, so your teeth have less natural protection. Rinsing straight after brushing washes away the fluoride before it has had time to work.
Should I Use Fluoride Toothpaste During Invisalign Treatment?
Yes, you should use fluoride toothpaste during Invisalign treatment, because your teeth need extra protection while they are covered by aligners.
Aligners fit closely over your teeth, so any sugar or food left behind is held against the enamel. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste before you put your aligners back in helps keep your teeth strong and free from decay throughout treatment.
See also: How to maintain oral hygiene with Invisalign
Can My Dentist Give Me Extra Fluoride Protection?
Yes, your dentist or hygienist can give you extra fluoride protection if you are at a higher risk of tooth decay. This may include a fluoride varnish painted onto your teeth during an appointment, or a prescription toothpaste with a higher level of fluoride.
Your dentist will check your risk of decay at each routine check-up and advise you on the best toothpaste for you.
Our dental hygienists in Hertfordshire can also show you how to brush effectively and keep your teeth and gums healthy for life.
