Fluoride has been the key cavity-fighting ingredient (and the only one approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) used in toothpastes since the 1950s. So, why did we decide not to include fluoride in ours? Simply put, people wanted it left out. Our Honest Toothpaste is fluoride-free for the ever-growing amount of consumers interested in that option.
We also recognize that while there may be certain benefits to fluoride, there can also be potential risks.
- Just 1 gram of fluoride toothpaste (a full strip of paste on a regular-sized brush) is sufficient to cause acute fluoride toxicity in a two-year old child (e.g., nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea) (1).
- Children who swallow fluoride toothpaste can reach fluoride levels in their blood that exceed the levels that have been found to inhibit insulin secretion and increase blood glucose in animals and humans (2-4).
- Fluoride has been identified as a developmental neurotoxicant linked to lowered IQ in children (5-8).
- 40% of teenagers in the U.S. show signs of fluoride overexposure (9).
We believe there are some basic, better ways to protect our teeth — like consistent, daily oral hygiene practices (brushing and flossing), healthy nutrition, avoiding excess sugar, and regular teeth cleanings and checkups with your dentist.
Still, we also strongly encourage you to discuss this issue with your family dentist. If you’re prone to cavities, careful use of a toothpaste containing fluoride might be beneficial. Only you and your dentist can know for sure.
That said, Honest Toothpaste, available for both kids and adults, relies on calcium carbonate, baking soda, aloe, ginger, and other ingredients to safely help reduce tartar build-up, brighten teeth, and promote healthy teeth and gums — for an honestly clean mouth and peace of mind!
References:
- Shulman, J. D., & Wells, L. M. (1997). Acute Fluoride Toxicity from Ingesting Home‐use Dental Products in Children, Birth to 6 Years of Age. Journal of public health dentistry, 57(3), 150-158.
- Chiba FY, et al. (2012). NaF treatment increases TNF-a and resistin concentrations and reduces insulin signal in rats. Journal of Fluorine Chemistry 136:3-7.
- Menoyo I, Rigalli A, Puche RC. 2005. Effect of fluoride on the secretion of insulin in the rat. Drug Res 55(5):455-60.
- Shahed AR, et al. (1986). Effect of F on rat serum insulin levels in vivo. Journal of Dental Research 65:756.
- Choi, A. L., Sun, G., Zhang, Y., & Grandjean, P. (2012). Developmental fluoride neurotoxicity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Grandjean, P., & Landrigan, P. J. (2014). Neurobehavioural effects of developmental toxicity. The Lancet Neurology, 13(3), 330-338.
- ON, F. W. (1999). Effect of fluoride in drinking water on children’s intelligence. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu, 28(6), 337-8.
- Lu, Y., Sun, Z. R., Wu, L. N., Wang, X., Lu, W., & Liu, S. S. (2000). Effect of high-fluoride water on intelligence in children. Fluoride, 33(2), 74-78.
- Beltran-Aguilar ED, et al. (2010). Prevalence and Severity of Dental Fluorosis in the United States, 1999–2004. NCHS Data Brief No. 53.
This post was revised as of 1/26/2016.
We aim to provide you with the most honest and credible information possible. This article was reviewed for accuracy by The Honest Team and was written based on trusted sources that are linked at the bottom of the article.
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