Introduction
Fluoride is a mineral that is found naturally in food and water. It has been used to improve dental health and bone strength. Fluoride can be used as a toothpaste or mouth rinse.
Dosages
No more than 10 mg should be taken per day. D1
What Research Shows
Likely Effective
- Cavity prevention —likely to prevent cavity formation A1-A9
Not Enough Data to Assess
- Osteoporosis B1
- Tooth sensitivity C1
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Safety Notes
It is likely safe to use fluoride in small doses for a short time. High doses may cause muscle and nerve problems and changes in tooth color in children. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to use for a long period. D1, D2
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.
References
REFA Cavity Prevention
REFA1 Tubert-Jeannin S, Auclair C, et al. Fluoride supplements (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gums) for preventing dental caries in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Dec 7;(12):CD007592.
REFA2 Santos AP, Oliveira BH, et al. Effects of low and standard fluoride toothpastes on caries and fluorosis: systematic review and meta-analysis. Caries Res. 2013;47(5):382-390.
REFA3 Benson PE, Parkin N, et al. Fluorides for the prevention of early tooth decay (demineralised white lesions) during fixed brace treatment. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Dec 12;(12):CD003809.
REFA4 Schwendicke F, Jäger AM, et al. Treating pit-and-fissure caries: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. J Dent Res. 2015 Apr;94(4):522-533.
REFA5 Marinho VC, Worthington HV, et al. Fluoride gels for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Jun 15;(6):CD002280.
REFA6 Lenzi TL, Montagner AF, et al. Are topical fluorides effective for treating incipient carious lesions?: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Dent Assoc. 2016 Feb;147(2):84-91.e1.
REFA7 Marinho VC, Chong LY, et al. Fluoride mouthrinses for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Jul 29;7:CD002284.
REFA8 Singh A, Purohit BM. Caries Preventive Effects of High-fluoride vs Standard-fluoride Toothpastes-A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Oral Health Prev Dent. 2018;16(4):307-314.
REFA9 Walsh T, Worthington HV, et al. Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;3:CD007868.
REFB Osteoporosis
REFB1 Vestergaard P, Jorgensen NR, et al. Effects of treatment with fluoride on bone mineral density and fracture risk—a meta-analysis. Osteoporos Int. 2008;19(3):257-268.
REFC Tooth Sensitivity
REFC1 Bae JH, Kim YK, et al. Desensitizing toothpaste versus placebo for dentin hypersensitivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Periodontol. 2015 Feb;42(2):131-141.
REFC2 Wang Y, Gao J, et al. Evaluation of the efficacy of potassium nitrate and sodium fluoride as desensitizing agents during tooth bleaching treatment—A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent. 2015 Aug;43(8):913-923.
REFC3 Yang S, Ying K, et al. [Desensitizing effects of stannous fluoride-containing toothpaste for patients with dentine hypersensitivity: a Meta-analysis]. Hua Xi Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2016;34(2):150-155.
REFD Safety
REFD1 Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine website. Available at: http://books.nap.edu/books/0309063507/html/index.html. Published 1997. Accessed September 16, 2019.
REFD2 Wong MC, Glenny AM, et al. Topical fluoride as a cause of dental fluorosis in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Jan 20;(1):CD007693.