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 an hour ago | parent [-]

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 24 minutes ago | parent [-]

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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rrr_oh_man 15 minutes ago | parent [-]

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 3 minutes 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.