Fluoride-Free Toothpastes

No, no and no! For any patient in the market for a new toothpaste, the only thing that really, REALLY, matters if the product includes Fluoride! There's an increasing population of "green-minded", organic shoppers, which I personally can relate to, but on the issue of oral care, fluoride is essential. Here's why:

Our teeth are comprised of a hard outer coating of enamel, which is chemically made up of calcium and phosphate. When we consume carbohydrates, bacteria on our teeth ferment these carbohydrates, producing an acidic environment, which in turn begins to decay our teeth, creating what dentists call a carious lesion. These days, if carious lesions are caught early, they can be remineralized, naturally, or with the use of fluoride or calcium/phosphate products such as MI paste. So Fluoride not only protects our teeth from caries lesions, but it:

1. Increases the acid resistance of enamel
2. Has antibacterial properties - inhibits bacterial enzymes

On the topic of fluoridated water, this is also an essential for ideal oral health. While we can get fluoride from sources such as marine shellfish, tea and toothbrushing, the concentration of fluoride in water is so low that toxicity is unfathomable. In the United States, fluoridated water is kept at a concentration of 1ppm (part-per-million) or 1mg per 1L. Fluoride is only found to be toxic to humans at concentrations of 1500ppm, or 5mg/kg. At this rate you would need to drink more than 1000L of water to have a potential subacute poisoning! While this will continue to be a controversial topic, dental professionals will continue to advocate the benefits of fluoride in oral health. Nonetheless, the concerns of the public are heard, and if scientific data arose proving against what is currently supported, the  tides would change, but for now, fluoride is definitely a mainstay!