Dental caries: Do fluoride tooth products prevent tooth decay in children and young people?

Fluoride tooth products, especially toothpaste, protect children against plaque and tooth decay.

Tooth decay or dental caries is painful and can destroy teeth. It has been known for a long time that fluoride can strengthen teeth. That is why many dental products include small amounts of fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral that also occurs naturally, for example in drinking water, mineral water and black tea. In some countries fluoride is also added to the community's water supply. In Germany, you can get table salt which has been enriched with fluoride, as well as fluoride tablets.

Fluoride can also have disadvantages for children. If they swallow too much, the fluoride inside their bodies can have a negative impact on the growth of their second set of teeth (permanent teeth). This happens most easily if they swallow products such as toothpaste or gels that are meant to be spat out. Typical signs include white, yellowish or brown patches on permanent teeth, as well as superficial damage. This condition is called fluorosis.

A systematic study of research trials showed that the benefit of fluoride in reducing tooth decay has been firmly established. Researchers from the Cochrane Collaboration, an international network of researchers, found more than 130 trials which tested various fluoride-containing dental products in more than 65,000 children and young people between the ages of five and 16. This did not include studies of fluoride supplements that are taken orally. The researchers only looked at the effects that fluoride products have on permanent teeth.

The Cochrane study showed that children who use fluoride toothpaste, mouthwashes, gels or varnishes were less likely to have dental problems like caries, need a filling or have a tooth pulled. The biggest benefit was experienced by children whose teethbrushing was supervised. The study did not show, however, how often fluoride products caused adverse effects.

You can read more about how the different fluoride dental products compare with each other here. Fluoride products should not be used as a substitute for brushing your teeth.


Author: German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG)

© IQWiG (Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care)