Fluoride Types, Uses, and Safety

Dr. Ellie Straddles the Fluoride Argument

Dr. Ellie recognizes the benefits of including dilute sodium fluoride in mouth rinses and toothpaste for topical use only, but she does not advocate adding it to drinking water, using high concentrations of any fluoride, or ever using other types of fluoride compounds due to the established health risks. She strongly warns against children ingesting any form of fluoride before their adult teeth have erupted because of the potential damage known as fluorosis.

Sodium Fluoride

Dr. Ellie recommends only sodium fluoride because it acts as a catalyst to remineralize tooth enamel. Fortifying normal tooth strength helps resist acidic damage—one of the main causes of tooth decay—and rebuilds previously weakened teeth. Strong, mineralized enamel is critical for protecting teeth and sustaining long-term oral health. Sodium fluoride has been studied for decades and is considered the most stable and safe fluoride compound. Also, it will not stain teeth, a problem that can occur with other kinds of fluoride, particularly stannous fluoride. Unfortunately, sodium fluoride is the most expensive fluoride, so it is rarely used in oral care products.

Dr. Ellie recommends avoiding high-concentration fluoride products and using lower-dilution products, such as ACT, with 0.05 percent sodium fluoride. While it is important to bathe your teeth in the sodium fluoride paste and mouth rinse so that it can interact with your teeth enamel, she advises spitting it out to guard against swallowing it. Regarding concerns that fluoride may be absorbed through the skin during rinsing, she advises that there is no evidence to substantiate these worries. She believes the dangers associated with poor oral health far outweigh this minimal risk.

Dr. Ellie is convinced that the benefits from brushing and rinsing with a low concentration of sodium fluoride can help reverse tooth damage for adults and children over the age of six (who can rinse and spit effectively). And that regular use of this specific type of fluoride at this specific dilute concentration can improve weak, sensitive, or damaged teeth.

Deeper Understanding of Fluoride

Fluoride is a very complicated topic that has generated so much interest, conflict, concern, and discussion that the public has been left confused. Much of the confusion stems from the broad use of the term "fluoride" as if there is only one type that exists and universally used.

Fluoride is a compound of the element fluorine with another element. Fluoride is a naturally-occurring compound found in soils, ground water and foods. When discussing oral health, it is critical to understand the difference between sodium fluoride versus other fluoride compounds. To gain a deeper understanding of fluoride, it is important to understand:

• the history of fluoride's discovery in our waterways
• the misguided decisions surrounding its addition to drinking water
• the chemistry of and the differences in fluoride compounds
• the safe application of dilute sodium fluoride used topically

For a full examination of this topic, please read Dr. Ellie's books Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye, First and Second Edition where she provides a detailed background, facts and analysis of fluoride. She also posted an in-depth discussion on her YouTube channel.

Continue learning about Dr. Ellie's program here: Dr. Ellie's Complete Mouth Care System Overview