Fluoride? What makes a good toothpaste

It depends on the right toothpaste: is fluoride important?

03/21/2014

Toothpaste is supposed to protect teeth from caries. Therefore, it consists of various ingredients that on the one hand support the toothbrush in the cleaning and on the other hand should cause a remineralization of the teeth. There are, however, a lot to note. Experts advise on fluoride-containing toothpastes. „It is scientifically proven that fluoride is the most important and most effective ingredient to protect the teeth from decay, "said Sara Waldau of Stiftung Warentest in Berlin told the news agency „dpa“. In a study of 20 universal number of creams cut those without fluoride therefore very bad in the rating of consumer advocates.

Professionals recommend toothpaste with fluoride
Scientific studies show that up to 40 percent of caries cases can be prevented by fluoride with modern toothpastes. A good toothpaste does not have to carry a well-known brand name or be expensive. According to Stiftung Warentest, the cheapest toothpaste costs with „very well“ was rated, only 39 cents. This corresponds to an amount of 2.40 euros per person per year.

Fluorides play an important role in preventing tooth decay by sealing holes in the enamel with minerals and preventing bacteria from entering. This process is called remineralization. Certain acids are responsible for removing the minerals from the enamel, the hardest tissue in the human body. If these weak spots are not closed, it is a matter of time before caries occurs. Toothpaste without fluoride is therefore not recommended. „There are also in the health food store also products that do not contain fluoride, "says Christian Splieth of the German Society of Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (DGZMK) to the news agency. „These are not therapeutically-medically effective, but are just gladly bought by parents. "Therefore, more and more children have bad teeth.The DGZMK and the Federal Dental Association (BZÄK) recommend for children up to six years a fluoride content of 500 ppm F and for adults up to 1500 ppm F in the toothpaste.

Cleaning body of toothpaste determines the strength of the abrasion when brushing teeth
In addition to the fluoride content consumers should also pay attention to the cleaning body of the toothpaste. „These are small particles that support the cleaning action of the toothbrush and help to remove discolouration, "explains Waldau. „Most toothpastes contain silica as a cleaning substance. "The toothpastes differ in terms of size, shape and number of brushes, but fluoride must be identified on the packaging of toothpastes. „This is because the RDA value that could provide information about this is not internationally standardized, "Dietmar Oesterreich, Vice President of the Federal Dental Association, told the news agency. Consumers can assume that whitening toothpaste tends to be more abrasive than For example, sensitive toothpastes. „We generally do not recommend high levels of abrasion, "emphasizes Oesterreich. „Often scouring movements are carried out. Both hurt the hard tooth substance. "

Whitener Toothpaste Can „at best, refresh the natural color "
Whiteners contain either heavy cleansers or bleach systems to remove dental records. „Whitening toothpastes may tend to remove discoloration well. But that does not mean they whiten their teeth. At best, they can refresh the natural color ", explains the expert from Stiftung Warentest. „Some products are very aggressive and damage the tooth surface after prolonged use. "

For sensitive teeth experts therefore recommend sensitive toothpastes. „They usually have lower levels of abrasion and often contain ingredients to reduce sensitivity to pain. "Most exposed cervicals are the cause of increased sensation of pain in heat, cold and pressure when the gums retract and the non-resistant dental cement brushes off while brushing their teeth becomes.

For some time, toothpastes have been on the market that promise to repair porous enamel. Frequently these fluoride replacement products, however, do not contain fluoride, which is why they did poorly in consumer protection tests. „The toothpaste we examined contained as active ingredient zinc carbonate hydroxyapatite, which should correspond to the natural tooth enamel, "reports Waldau. „The problem is that this toothpaste does not contain fluoride. "Austria also critically evaluates enamel replacement toothpastes. „There is no clinical evidence that the promised effect occurs in the oral cavity. "

Dental health affects quality of life
How important the correct dental care is, confirmed by various studies. „Oral health is essential for overall health and quality of life“, Austria is quoted in a statement by the BZÄK. „There are clear indications of the relationship between oral health and general health and quality of life effects. That is why it is important that the oral health of the youngest is maintained through proper oral hygiene and healthy nutrition.“ In particular, among the under-three year old caries is a problem. In this age group, it is one of the most common chronic diseases. So does the so-called Nuckelflaschenkaries, which arises when toddlers permanently suck on the vial and chew and this contains sugary drinks. „We want a good oral health for all ages“, emphasizes Austria. „Especially toddlers need our full support.“ (Ag)