A dentist on the Pepsodent Ghana’s Dental TV Show has demystified some myths about using fluoride toothpaste and instead outlined the benefits of fluoride, a component in toothpaste.

Dr Gwendolyn Amarquaye-Bayitse, on ‘Time with the Dentist’, spoke about the importance of fluoride to the tooth.

Fluoride is a chemical commonly added to toothpaste to help prevent tooth decay. In addition, fluoride is often added to toothpaste to improve its benefit to the health of your teeth.

Fluoride is safe for use in toothpaste and mouthwash because it protects the teeth against decay by helping strengthen developing enamel and slowing acid production of bacteria caused by plaque.

Fluoride also helps to protect the teeth against a process called demineralisation. This occurs when bacteria combine with sugars to create acid that erodes the teeth.

Some of the misconceptions concerning fluoride toothpaste include fluoride being a causative agent of cancer, fluoride being toxic, and fluoride not being able to fight against tooth decay but rather erodes the teeth.

In demystifying these misconceptions, Dr Amarquaye-Bayitsem outrightly refutes those assumptions and states emphatically that fluoride toothpaste is not toxic and cannot cause cancer. In her submission, she explains that “The amount of fluoride in toothpaste is strictly regulated. This amount is supposed to be between 1000 – 1500 parts per million.

“This amount can in no way give you symptoms of fluoride intoxication. Research has also shown that this amount cannot increase your risk of getting cancer. So, fluoride toothpaste is safe, especially when you consider the pee size amount that we recommend you use every time you brush”.

Throwing more light on the subject, Dr Gwendolyn Amarquaye-Bayitse explains that “Indeed, fluoride does not only help fight against tooth decay but also at the early stages of tooth decay, fluoride can reverse the process”.

She states that the tooth enamel contains a substance called hydroxyapatite. When fluoride encounters hydroxyapatite, it changes to fluorapatite. Fluorapatite is stronger than hydroxyapatite and more resistant to acid attacks in the mouth.

Dr Gwendolyn Amarquaye further entreated the general public to desist from amplifying myths without a scientific basis.

She encouraged the public to take advantage of the various fact-checking avenues and always remember to brush daily with a fluoride toothpaste like Pepsodent.

Time with The Dentist is a dental TV show by Pepsodent in partnership with the Ghana Dental Association. The show seeks to educate Ghanaians on basic oral hygiene routines, how to care for the teeth and some myths and facts about maintaining good oral hygiene.

It shows weekly on TV3, Adom TV, UTV, MX24 and GHOne TV.