(AP)- Dental health experts worry that more people are using toothpaste that doesn’t contain fluoride, putting them at a greater risk of cavities.
Most toothpastes already contain fluoride, and health authorities recognize it as a cavity blocker. But the internet is dotted with claims, largely from “natural” toothpaste marketers and alternative medicine advocates, that fluoride-free toothpaste also prevents cavities.
A review of dental studies released this week finds otherwise. The University of Washington study concludes that, without fluoride, neither brushing nor flossing prevents cavities.
Dentist Matthew Messina, a spokesman for the American Dental Association, says the study is important because it supports the organization’s recommendation to use using toothpastes containing fluoride.