Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with fluoride

Which product is best for my precious bodily fluids?

Tacodog — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:11:00 -0800

Act fluoride rinse has three products and all of them contain a sole active ingredient in the same proportions (the smaller bottle has double the amount, but I think it's because the dose they recommend is half as much as the larger). I can see the angle on the Kids brand what with a bubble gummy taste and all but, other than marketing, I can't tell how other two are different. What gives? Are there more active ingredients in the Restoring version that, due to ADA or FDA regulations, Act is not allowed to list? Or do all of these formulations do the same thing and differ only in taste and price?

Did the toothpaste make my teeth hurt?

arnicae — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:00:49 -0800

I have bad teeth. So how come the flouride toothpaste my dentist prescribed to decrease cavity formation and problems is making my teeth actually hurt? I have really bad teeth. I usually get 2-5 cavities fixed a year and for a pretty young person with good oral hygiene history, I've had an astonishing number of problems (2 root canals before the age of 24).

My new dentist told me that some people have a toxic element to their saliva- it is breaking research, she told me, so breaking that I couldn't find it alluded to on google scholar, but she thought we could cut down on the number of cavities I experience by giving me a fluoride toothpaste (as well as six fillings)

I don't typically have mouth pain, but about a week after I went home and started using the toothpaste, I started experiencing pain in my mouth. Low-level, (hitting around a 4/10) it also resulted in increased sensitivity to heat, cold, and sweets around where I had the fillings. Not too big a deal, but at night when I'm trying to sleep or concentrate, the throbbing, omni-present pain bugs me.

Last night I decided to try going back to my old toothpaste, Sensodyne. Today the pain is totally gone. Here's my question: every source I've found online says that fluoride should promote health, less pain, and basically good tooth hygiene. So did my prescription fluoride toothpaste make my teeth hurt? I don't get it!

Is my son being poisoned?

bh — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:42:02 -0800

Should my kids be taking fluoride supplements? I just found out today that my four-year-old son's pediatrician has prescribed daily sodium fluoride pills. The reason given is that we have a well at our house, and he is not getting enough fluoride in his drinking water.

Recommending fluoridated toothpaste or a fluoride treatment at the dentist I could understand, but is there any reason whatsoever he should be taking this stuff every day?

My gut reaction here is to immediately find another doctor.

If it makes any difference, he has had a full set of teeth since he was one, and they are all perfectly aligned, white and shiny.

So, hive mind, am I overreacting here?

Fluoride. Good or Bad?

nosophoros — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 13:07:01 -0800

I've been hearing alot about fluoride poisoning and such. I was wondering if anyone could give me the straight scoop on the fluoride controversy? Any Dentists here? Is fluoride good or bad overall? Any links or ref... you could point me to would be great as well