Do we really need toothpaste? It was suggested after a shocking study found that up to four in five teachers are handing out toothpaste and toothbrushes to their students because of the cost of living crisis.
The findings, which come from a study by the British Dental Association and Beauty Banks, an anti-poverty charity, led commentator Giles Coren to declare that toothpaste is unnecessary because “it’s the abrasive brush that makes the difference.” , not the pasta. “
He was right to some extent, but the message is don’t just throw the toothpaste away.
“When we brush our teeth, we try to loosen bacteria that build up around the gum line and cause plaque, among other things [the sticky film that forms on the surface of teeth, leading to decay]says Sam Jethwa, clinical director of Bespoke Smile in Marlow, Bucks.
“So if this plaque is effectively removed with a good toothbrush and technique, you can just use water.”
It was suggested after a shocking study found that up to four in five teachers are now handing out toothpaste and toothbrushes to their students because of the cost of living crisis
Toothpaste contains fluoride, which has been “extensively studied to help strengthen enamel—the hard outer layer on teeth—and reverse tooth decay.”
However, toothpaste still plays an important role.
A good toothpaste contains fluoride, which “has been studied to help strengthen enamel — the hard outer layer on your teeth — and reverse tooth decay,” he adds.
“So you do two things at the same time when you brush with toothpaste: you mechanically remove plaque and you apply fluoride to the enamel.
“This is why we don’t recommend rinsing after brushing your teeth, because the more fluoride left on your teeth, the better it is at improving enamel strength.”
Mayur Pandya, Chief Clinical Officer of the Together Dental chain, agrees, adding: “Your tooth enamel is made up of crystals of a mineral, calcium hydroxyapatite – when we eat, the bacteria in our mouth feed on that food and produce acids as a result of it.
“These acids begin to dissolve this mineral shell and begin to dig through the enamel, known as white spot lesions, the earliest sign of tooth decay.” A toothpaste’s main job is to transport fluoride, which it counteracts.
But check the label: the recommended amount of fluoride in toothpaste for adults is 1,350 to 1,500 ppm; for children it is about 1,000 ppm. (For children under three, use just a little children’s toothpaste to prevent dental fluorosis, which can occur if teeth are exposed to too much fluoride during development.
This can stain the tooth surface and, in severe cases, stain the enamel.)
“It doesn’t have to be expensive toothpaste, but it is important that it contains the right amount of fluoride,” says Mayur Pandya.
Professor Justin Durham, senior scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, believes fluoridated toothpaste is making a significant difference to the nation’s teeth.
He told Good Health: “It is disheartening to see the benefits of fluoridated toothpaste so casually dismissed. It has been shown to help reduce the incidence of tooth decay and also moderate some of the effects of extraction.
“This has been exacerbated by the cost of living crisis and the access crisis in NHS dentistry.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
