Fluoride

Fluoride use at home

• By the time your child is around three years old, they are usually able to spit. If they can, you can begin using a small amount of fluoride toothpaste at this stage. The amount you use should be about the size of a grain of rice.
• Always help your child brush their teeth until they are around eight or nine years old. Before that, they cannot do it well on their own.
• Children over the age of five who can spit properly should use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. You should brush twice a day for two minutes.
• Using fluoride helps prevent cavities in both children and adults.
• We recommend using fluoride toothpaste that has been approved by the Canadian Dental Association.

Fluoride is a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay, but remember:

• To teach your child to spit and never swallow toothpaste.
• Store all products containing fluoride away from children.
• Supervise children when they are using products with fluoride.

Fluoride use at the dental office

• Your dentist or dental hygienist can recommend a fluoride treatment to prevent tooth decay.
• Fluoride comes in many different types, including varnishes, gels, rinses and foams.
• Your dentist or hygienist can also recommend fluoride supplements to children who are at a high risk of cavities, or who live in areas that do not have fluoride in the water.
• If you have a history of tooth decay or dry mouth from medications, your dental professional may suggest an over-the-counter fluoride rinse or gel to help prevent cavities.

Community water fluoridation

Fluoride plays a key role in preventing tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel. Community water fluoridation adjusts the naturally occurring fluoride levels in drinking water to an optimal concentration range to protect against tooth decay. 0.5 mg/L to 0.8 mg/L, as recommended by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change’s Technical Support Document for Ontario Drinking Water Standards.

More than 70 years of research shows that community water fluoridation (CWF) is safe. We check drinking water to make sure that it follows the water quality standards in the Safe Drinking Water Act. Further, CWF is endorsed by major public health bodies around the world, including the World Health Organization, the Canadian Dental Association, and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

The Chief Dental Officer of Canada and the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada have co-signed the PHAC position statement on CWF.

Community water fluoridation protects the dental health of everyone, regardless of their income, age, or education. The amount of fluoride in drinking water is regulated by the Ontario government.

Fluoride and well water

If you use well water, you can check your fluoride levels.