where is that? i stopped having cavities when i started using Act mouthwash -- don't understand how anyone can hate on fluoride.

▲ SAI_Peregrinus 7 hours ago | parent [-]

There are prescription-only high-fluoride toothpastes. Excessive fluoride (more than you can get from Act + normal fluoride toothpaste) can cause fluorosis, which ends up being bad for the teeth. Normal amounts of fluoride are good for the teeth. The prescription-only toothpastes have enough that you don't want to use them regularly for a long period. As with most things, the dose makes the poison. Some dentists prescribe them even when they're not needed, since it won't be harmful to use a tube of the stuff every year, or even every 6 months, and it's profitable to them.

▲ rrr_oh_man 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I got high fluoride toothpaste when I was a kid. Turns out, I just didn't know how to brush my teeth properly.

  1. Floss first (!!!)
  2. Use *any* electric brush
  3. Spit, but don't wash out with water
  4. Use fluoride mouthwash

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kelnos 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Is there any research/literature on this? A couple years ago I read that the "correct" order was mouthwash -> floss -> brush.

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devman0 5 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I thought it was floss -> mouthwash -> brush, but either way brush was always last because the toothpaste fluoride is what you wanted left on your teeth at the end of the process with the mouthwash serving as a base layer.

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rrr_oh_man 6 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Really good question.

I personally treat it like gym: it's most important that you do it, not so much in what order or even how well.

	▲	kube-system 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		I think the most important thing is to make sure your process leaves a fluoridated product in your mouth at the end. You want the fluoride to stay on your teeth for 30 minutes.

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layman51 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I have heard of Step 3 too, but shouldn't we bit at least a little bit concerned about the fluoride calcifying our pineal gland? I know some people might take my last sentence and think it's woo-ey but if you search it up, basically it seems like there's nothing conclusive one way or another.

▲ seattle_spring 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> Some dentists prescribe them even when they're not needed, since it won't be harmful to use a tube of the stuff every year, or even every 6 months, and it's profitable to them.

How is it profitable for them? If I get a prescription from my dentist and fill it at a pharmacy, how does my dentist make extra money from that transaction?

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kevin_thibedeau 4 hours ago | parent [-]

Once the sales rep is happy with your performance pushing product, you get invited to expenses paid conferences in the tropics.

	▲	sarchertech 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		1. That is something that has happened. However, it is highly illegal and it is regularly prosecuted. 2. You can go here and look up any payments (cash or otherwise) from pharmaceutical companies to your doctor. All payments over $13.82 are reported. https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/ 3. Even if the dentist’s drug rep was interested in committing a felony. Fluoride toothpaste doesn’t have enough profit margin to send dentists on expenses paid international vacations. We’re definitely not talking about enough money to risk jail time. 4. Most physician groups and hospitals prohibit taking money from pharmaceutical companies or at least low limits. 5. My wife is a physician and most of our friends are physicians. No one that either of us knows has ever gone on drug company sponsored conference trip. 6. I always check my physicians and dentists on the open payments site. I’ve never seen any of them taking more than a few bucks for meals.