Life

Ask the Dentist: Are herbal toothpastes as effective as those containing flouride?

Fluoride is missing from many herbal toothpastes and certainly not present in homemade toothpastes
Fluoride is missing from many herbal toothpastes and certainly not present in homemade toothpastes Fluoride is missing from many herbal toothpastes and certainly not present in homemade toothpastes

EYE of newt, toe of frog, hair of a virgin, three eucalyptus leaves and a pinch of bicarbonate of soda... What have you got? Homemade toothpaste?

Just because a homemade toothpaste tastes nice or smells nice does not mean that it works. Just because someone has used said toothpaste for a while and has had “no problems” like pain or sensitivity from their teeth still doesn't mean it works. I see teeth daily that have deep decay or are abscessed that give no pain or sensitivity.

Broadly speaking, when we are dealing with products that claim to give a certain benefit I think people would generally agree that we need evidence that they work.

Evidence is a tricky concept as when it is derived from research there are all sorts of red herrings like the bias of who carried out the study and for what reason, how many people were observed and for how long and the general design of the study. However, ingredients in a product still need to have a modicum of scientific basis before claims can be made.

Most people would imagine that a toothpaste – whether it is herbal, homemade or a mainstream fluoride-containing one – would benefit the teeth and keep them strong.

The research for herbal toothpastes is limited but shows that they are beneficial for removing plaque and promoting gum health. Studies also show that some of the “natural” ingredients do work.

Remember, the simple mechanical action of the toothbrush removing food, plaque and bacteria is beneficial and helps to reduce holes in the teeth and keep gums strong.

But there is no strong evidence that herbal toothpastes harden teeth because the ingredient that has been shown to harden teeth – fluoride – is missing.

A growing number of people have concerns about fluoride, which is why they are turning to fluoride-free toothpastes. But what if the seemingly innocuous herbal toothpaste actually ends up harming the teeth as the enamel-hardening ingredient has been left out?

Our modern diet is brimming with sugars and erosive acids which attack our teeth. Are herbal toothpastes up to the job of enamel protection with our modern diet?