Fluoride vs. Non-Fluoride & Other Toothpaste Ingredients You Should Also Be Concerned About

Blog Summary:

Here’s what you’ll learn in this blog post:

• Why the fluoride vs. non-fluoride toothpaste debate (and fluoride vs. non-fluoride controversy in general) may not be the only question to ask about your oral health.
• How some toothpaste and mouthwash ingredients—like PTFE (Teflon), triclosan, and peppermint oil—may pose greater risks than fluoride.
• A breakdown of EWG safety scores for common oral care ingredients and what they mean for your health.
• The importance of viewing your mouth as a living ecosystem, not just enamel to scrub.
• Why supporting your oral microbiome is essential for your immune system, digestion, and even heart health.
• How SuperMouth’s science-backed, microbiome-friendly products offer safer, smarter alternatives—with or without fluoride.

When it comes to oral health, the world has debated fluoride versus non-fluoride toothpaste in circles for decades. But while that’s been happening, many toothpaste and mouthwash brands have been quietly loading their formulas with far more concerning – and far less talked about – ingredients.

To clarify, wondering whether you should use fluoride or not is actually a valid concern (especially if you’re buying products for little ones who haven’t developed safe swallowing skills yet). But the point is, there’s an arguably more important question you should be asking: “Are the products you’re using for oral care safe, effective, and supportive of your oral microbiome and whole-body health?”

Here’s what you need to know.

Fluoride: Not the Villain, Not the Hero: Just A Tool

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in seafood, tea, vegetables, and other substances. It’s also the only ingredient currently approved by the FDA for cavity prevention in over-the-counter oral care products.

What does it do? It helps create fluorapatite, which strengthens (remineralizes) enamel and makes it around ten times more resistant to acid than natural hydroxyapatite already in your teeth.

Fluoride is also dose-dependent, meaning that when overused – especially by young children – it can lead to dental fluorosis and in rare cases, toxicity.

That’s why many people have rightly called attention to its risks. Using fluoride is a case of risk vs benefit, and most will find that the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Not sure if fluoride is right for you? There ARE safe & effective alternatives, among them SuperMouth Hydroxamin®, which contains nano-hydroxyapatite plus vitamins D3 and K2 for remineralization.

Non-Fluoride Toothpaste Sounds Good. It Often Isn’t.

This might come as a shocking truth – but when comparing fluoride toothpaste vs non-fluoride toothpaste, non-fluoride toothpaste isn’t always safer. In fact, sometimes it’s potentially more problematic.

“Non-fluoride” is more of a marketing term than a marker of safety and efficacy, and it doesn’t actually tell you what’s inside a product. Things like engine oil, muscle relaxant cream, and drain unclogger are also fluoride-free, but are they safe to put in your mouth? Absolutely not.

Even many so-called “natural” and “clean” toothpastes are packed with ingredients that raise red flags on many major safety scales such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG) database.

Moving Beyond Non-Fluoride Toothpaste vs. Fluoride Toothpaste: Here’s What’s Worse.

Here are several oral care ingredients ranked by their EWG safety scores with 1 being the safest and 10 being the most toxic. As you can see, fluoride’s score is far lower than all others.

Did You Know: PTFE (Teflon), a known is often found in floss? – Per the EPA, “Studies indicate that PFOA and PFOS [both subclassifications of PFAS] can cause reproductive and developmental, liver and kidney, and immunological effects in laboratory animals. Both chemicals have caused tumors in animal studies.” [emphasis added]

Looking for a healthy PTFE-free floss? SuperMouth offers options!

Your Mouth is an Ecosystem

When you focus only on whether fluoride vs non-fluoride oral care products are better, you not only miss the fact that there could be many other dangerous substances hiding in your toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss, but you also miss the fact that your mouth is an ecosystem, not just a set of teeth to scrub.

What’s more, your mouth connects to the rest of your body. For instance:

• Your teeth are alive! They need minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins D3 and K2.
• Your gums are direct pathways into your bloodstream.
• Your oral microbiome supports digestion, immunity, and even heart health.

Using products with alcohol, certain essential oils, and harsh chemicals decimates this ecosystem, hurting your oral health and your overall health. This isn’t an opinion, it’s a scientific fact.

Want to switch over from alcohol-based mouthwash? Consider SuperMouth’s microbiome-friendly, pH-balanced mouth rinses!

It’s Time to Switch to Safer & More Effective Oral Care

It’s time to stop getting lost in the weeds of the fluoride vs. non-fluoride debate. It’s time to focus on science-backed solutions. It’s time to take back your health and prioritize your oral care!

Looking for products to help you do all that and more? SuperMouth dentist-developed and dentist-approved mouthcare is here to save the day, like your favorite superhero! Here’s what makes SuperMouth different:

• Hydroxamin® in every toothpaste, mouthwash & floss(A patented blend of nano-hydroxyapatite + vitamins D3 & K2)
• Fluoride or non-fluoride options, based on your needs(Not marketing gimmicks—real, science-backed personalization)
• No PTFE, parabens, SLS, synthetic dyes, or toxic essential oils
• Spearmint instead of peppermint oil(Spearmint is rated 1—the safest—by EWG)
• Customized oral care systems by age, stage & cavity risk

Curious about which products are right for you or your family and not sure what to do or where to begin your search for safer alternatives? Take the SuperMouth oral care assessment for a personalized match.