That totally makes sense, honestly. I tried going without fluoride toothpaste for a bit too—mostly just out of curiosity—and I swear my teeth got more sensitive. I get wanting to avoid extra chemicals, but the anxiety of maybe messing up my enamel just wasn’t worth it for me either. It’s weird how something so basic can feel like a gamble. You’re definitely not alone in feeling unsure about it.
the anxiety of maybe messing up my enamel just wasn’t worth it for me either. It’s weird how something so basic can feel like a gamble.
I hear you on that. I tried to cut back on fluoride stuff a while ago too, mainly to save a few bucks and see if it really mattered. Honestly, my teeth got way more sensitive and I started worrying about the cost of fillings down the line. Sometimes it feels like you have to pick between “extra chemicals” and paying for dental work. For me, the peace of mind (and not dreading the dentist bill) won out. Don’t beat yourself up—doing what works for your health and budget is what matters most.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’m still on the fence about fluoride in tap water, especially with my kid. Our pediatrician says it’s safe and helpful, but I can’t help wondering if we’re overdoing it with toothpaste and water both having it. We switched to filtered water for a bit just to see, and didn’t really notice a difference, but I guess I just feel better knowing exactly what’s going in. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I’d rather play it safe until my kid’s older.
I can’t help wondering if we’re overdoing it with toothpaste and water both having it.
Totally get that feeling. I used to worry about the same thing with my grandkids, especially since they were obsessed with swallowing toothpaste when they were little. But honestly, looking back at my own teeth (and all the fillings I’ve had), I wish we’d had fluoride in our water growing up. I think as long as you’re not letting your kid gulp down mouthfuls of toothpaste, you’re probably fine. It’s easy to feel paranoid—I still double-check labels sometimes—but the benefits have outweighed any worries for me.
I get where you’re coming from, but I do think it’s worth considering how much fluoride kids get from all sources combined. For example, my daughter’s dentist actually told us to use just a smear of toothpaste until she could spit reliably, and even then, to keep an eye on it. Between that and water, it can add up. I’m not anti-fluoride, but I do wish there was a bit more transparency about total exposure, especially for little kids. Sometimes I wonder if we’re erring a bit too much on the “more is better” side.
