Fluoride vs Non-Fluoride Toothpaste For Kids
Every parent gets stuck facing the same decision while standing in the oral care aisle at the drugstore: fluoride vs non-fluoride toothpaste for kids. Which is right for your child? Unfortunately, you won’t find a one-size-fits-all answer.
On one hand, fluoride is one of the most studied ingredients in oral care. It can help strengthen enamel and improve gum health. But little kids can’t exactly be trusted to spit their toothpaste in the sink when they’re done brushing. Swallowing fluoride can lead to fluorosis.
Some dentists support using an alternative to fluoride toothpaste until the age of 12. That doesn’t mean settling for suboptimal oral care, though. LIVFRESH Kids+ Toothpaste is fluoride-free, and brushing with it removes plaque 250% better than a leading ADA-approved toothpaste.
Keep reading to learn more about picking the right toothpaste for your child.
Key Takeaways
- Fluoride strengthens enamel and has well-established cavity prevention benefits. It may even support gum health.
- Swallowing fluoride toothpaste can lead to overexposure, and younger children are liable to forget to spit in the sink.
- Most non-fluoride toothpaste lacks clinical backing and can leave holes in your child’s oral care routine.
- LIVFRESH Kids+ Toothpaste has Activated Edathamil, an ingredient backed by 40 patents and 40 clinical studies showing it can clean teeth on a molecular level.
The Importance of Toothpaste For Children
Plaque forms on teeth every single day. It can build up even faster on kids’ teeth because they don’t brush as well as they should. Toothpaste is ultimately what makes brushing effective, which is why it’s not something you can take lightly as a parent.
Children are more susceptible to the consequences of poor plaque removal. Decay forms faster in baby teeth. And contrary to what you may assume, early problems can affect the permanent teeth developing underneath.
The best kids' toothpaste helps loosen the sticky film that a dry brush would merely push around. It also has ingredients that care for enamel and freshen breath.
Why Fluoride Toothpaste is So Popular
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that bonds with tooth enamel, making it harder for acid to break through. Acid is a byproduct of bacteria interacting with sugar left behind on your teeth after eating.
The ADA has recommended fluoride toothpaste for decades. This mineral has been added to US water supplies for decades now, which in itself has been credited with reducing cavity prevalence among children.
Whether you’re looking for the best toothpaste for sensitive teeth and gums or just want to keep cavities at bay, you’ll likely be recommended a fluoride toothpaste. The question is, do kids NEED fluoride toothpaste? More importantly, is it SAFE?
Is Fluoride Toothpaste Safe For Kids, Though?
Fluoride isn’t dangerous in toothpaste. Even young kids can safely brush with it. SWALLOWING fluoride toothpaste is where the concern lies.
Periodontist Dr. David Okano with the University of Utah School of Dentistry says, “If a child ingests fluoride-containing toothpaste, it could be too much fluoride to the developing tooth, causing fluorosis, which means white spots on teeth and dark spots, even.”1
It’s worth noting that mild fluorosis is cosmetic rather than dangerous. But even still, it’s not something you want to take any chances on. So how does the other half of our conversation on fluoride vs non-fluoride toothpaste for kids compare?
How Do Non-Fluoride Toothpastes Work?
There are many fluoride-free toothpastes on the market. Most rely on abrasives to physically scrub plaque from the surface of teeth. Others use xylitol, which discourages bacterial growth. Hydroxyapatite is another common fluoride alternative that mimics the structure of enamel.
But you’ll see the same trade-off with most non-fluoride toothpaste formulas: weaker cleaning. And in many cases, agitating sensitive mouths with abrasive ingredients.
This is what makes LIVFRESH Kids+ Toothpaste unlike anything on the market. It features Activated Edathamil, an ingredient backed by 40 clinical studies and protected by 40 patents. This toothpaste cleans teeth on a molecular level. Brushing with LIVFRESH removes plaque up to 250% better than a leading ADA-approved toothpaste.
The best part is it’s gentle. No abrasives, dyes, aggressive foaming agents, or anything that isn’t safe to swallow (although you should still encourage your child to spit just to practice good habits!). The bubblegum flavor is very popular with kids, too!
Fluoride vs Non-Fluoride Toothpaste For Kids: Comparing Your Options
Here are a few key considerations when weighing fluoride vs non-fluoride toothpaste for kids:
- Enamel protection: Fluoride actively hardens enamel and can help reverse early mineral loss. The best remineralizing toothpaste has fluoride in it. However, LIVFRESH does provide abrasive-free enamel care itself.
- Swallowing safety: Non-fluoride toothpaste like LIVFRESH is safe to swallow, whereas fluoride toothpaste may not be. This is why many parents stay fluoride-free until the child is at least 12 years old, when they can understand why they shouldn’t swallow.
- Cleaning power: Not all fluoride-free toothpaste is “weaker,” and LIVFRESH is a perfect example of this. You get a superior clean without any abrasives. Fluoride itself doesn’t actually have any plaque-removal properties.
- Ingredients: Any drugstore toothpaste containing fluoride is likely to have other ingredients you don’t want your child to use, including SLS, abrasives, and dyes. An SLS-free toothpaste avoids those detergents.
So, Which Toothpaste is Right For Your Child?
Hopefully you feel confident in choosing between fluoride vs non-fluoride toothpaste for kids now. This is a decision for YOU to make as their parent.
That being said, a fluoride-free toothpaste like LIVFRESH Kids+ Toothpaste may be a safer option until your child is old enough to be trusted not to swallow their toothpaste. You’re not giving up any cleaning performance. Brushing with LIVFRESH cleans teeth on a molecular level with a patented formula.
But fluoride does have its advantages - and it may be worth looking into as your child comes of age. LIVFRESH Gum Protect+ Toothpaste pairs stannous fluoride with the enhanced cleaning benefits of Activated Edathamil. It’s for adults and children over the age of 12. It can help prevent cavities and strengthen enamel. It’s clinically shown to help reduce gingival inflammation and gum bleeding 400% better than an ADA-approved toothpaste.
So whether you’re looking for the best fluoride toothpaste or the best dentist-supported toothpaste that’s safe for children, look no further than LIVFRESH.
References
- Okano, D. "Are There Benefits to Using Fluoride-Free Toothpaste?" University of Utah Health. University of Utah Health
LIVFRESH Kids+ Bubble Gum - 4 Pack (Subscription)
This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for advice from your dentist or healthcare provider. Where this article describes gum health benefits of a LIVFRESH product, including help with bleeding gums, gingivitis, or periodontitis, those benefits refer to the LIVFRESH Gum Protect+ product line and do not apply to our fluoride-free formula. Gingivitis and periodontitis claims are based on CE Mark certification. These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.