Fluoride has long been used as a treatment for strengthening teeth and helping to reduce the occurrence of cavities. Unfortunately, it isn't without its risks. Excess fluoride can lead to health concerns, and with fluoride added to city water supplies and is found in certain foods, it's easy to end up with too much. Here are a few things to consider if you're thinking about switching to fluoride-free toothpaste.

You May Be Getting Enough Already

You may not need a toothpaste that contains fluoride if you are already getting enough of it to protect your teeth. Most cities and towns have started adding fluoride to the city water during the treatment process to provide mass protection against tooth decay. In addition to this, a diet rich in spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, asparagus, carrots, and unsweetened fruit juices also provides you with additional fluoride. As a result, you may not need the extra fluoride in a toothpaste product.

You Have Young Children

Swallowing toothpaste that contains fluoride can make children ill. Fluoride is toxic in large amounts, and for little kids, it doesn't take a whole lot to make them sick. You will want to stick with toothpaste that doesn't contain any fluoride until your kids are old enough to spit out the toothpaste completely when they brush their teeth. It's the safest bet to avoid unnecessary complications.

You Have a Thyroid Condition

Your dentist may recommend that you switch to fluoride-free toothpaste if you have a thyroid condition. With fluoride being found in so many other things, he or she may want to limit any additional exposure. Excess fluoride consumption can actually affect your thyroid and its ability to absorb and use iodine. If you already have a thyroid condition, your dentist may want to minimize this effect by reducing the amount of fluoride you come in contact with.

You Are Pregnant

While the amount of fluoride used for oral health care has been deemed safe during pregnancy, you may find that you want to reconsider your use of fluoride-containing toothpaste while you are pregnant. With fluoride coming from so many different places, the last thing you want to worry about is the potential for nervous system issues, muscle weakness, and other side effects of excess fluoride consumption during pregnancy.

As you can see, there are some reasons why you may want to ditch traditional toothpaste. Talk with services like Dr. Jon Douglas Lesan, DDS, RpH, PA for more insight.