So Why is Fluoride in Our Toothpaste Anyways, And Where Else Is It?
It is well known that fluoride helps to prevent and reverse the early stages of tooth decay in proper doses. Fluoride in toothpaste helps prevent cavities and promotes good dental hygiene by slowly breaking down the enamel and increasing the rate of the remineralization process (6). Aside from dental hygiene products, fluoride can also be found in our water supply. For more than 60 years, water fluoridation has proven to be a safe and cost-effective way to reduce dental caries (7). However, when combined, these two sources of fluoride can rack up our daily intake to potentially dangerous limits – a highly controversial topic among parents and industry experts.


Let’s do some quick math on fluoride intake from our two primary sources – drinking water & toothpaste – keeping in mind the daily recommended intake should never break 1 mg of fluoride for children under 8, according to The National Institutes of Health’s Daily Adequate Intake (AI’s).
To start, the optimal fluoride level in drinking water to prevent tooth decay should be 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water (8). Considering toddlers are recommended to drink up to 1 liter per day and children aged 4-8 are recommended to drink up to 1.2 liters per day, the daily threshold for recommended fluoride intake can be nearly met or completely met, at any age group, through water intake (9).
To overexpose even further, a single strip of toothpaste covering the length of a child’s brush contains between 0.75 to 1.5mg of fluoride (10). This means that when children brush twice per day and drink their recommended daily water intake, fluoride levels would range from 2.2 mg to 3.7 mg - doubled and tripled the daily AI. Despite how easy overexposure can be, there are ways parents can actively manage the intake of fluoride in their children.
Decrease the odds of fluoride overexposure for your children with Kinder Karex Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste. Not only fluoride, SLS, and Paraben-free, the primary ingredient, BioHAP (biomimetic hydroxyapatite) accounts for 97% of our tooth enamel and 70% of our dentine. BioHAP is safe if swallowed, alleviating the concerns parents may have when toothpaste is accidentally ingested.
Up next: establish proper brushing habits for your children with techniques & guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
References
(6) https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-fluoride#benefits
(7) https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/fluoride-water.html
(8) https://www.cda.org/Home/News-and-Events/Newsroom/Article-Details/revised-optimal-fluoride-level-in-drinking-water-released-1
(9) https://www.choc.org/programs-services/urology/how-much-water-should-my-child-drink/
(10) https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-03/documents/fluoride-exposure-relative-report.pdf