FULL CLAIM: “[Fluoridated toothpaste] can kill a child. That same stuff that’s in the toothpaste is the stuff that’s in our water” [...] “The fact of the matter is there’s never been a scientific study that shows [fluoride reduces cavities]. Every scientific study that’s ever been done on fluoride shows that it causes dental fluorosis, it causes cavities, and it also causes cancers. It causes bone cancers, especially in children”
REVIEW
A Facebook reel posted in November 2024 made a number of claims about fluoride, including that it causes dental fluorosis, cavities, and cancer. It also claimed that fluoridated toothpaste is deadly to children.
Concerns about the alleged negative health effects of fluoride are commonly shared online. Science Feedback addressed such claims in previous reviews and found that fluoride isn’t neurotoxic at low levels, such as when it’s added to community water; that fluoridated water is safe for people of all ages to drink;, and that there is no reliable evidence that fluoride increases cancer risk.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also consider community water fluoridation to be one of the ten greatest public health achievements of the 20th century given robust evidence that it led to a decline in dental caries.
The reel was posted by the Facebook account Plantxology Bricklane, who described themselves as a London-based “Indian Street Food Market Stall” that is “Fully Plant Based” on their website. At the time of writing, the reel had been viewed more than 130,000 times.
The speaker in the reel is Ty Bollinger, who, alongside his wife Charlene, was listed as one of the “Disinformation Dozen” in a 2021 report released by the Center for Countering Digital Hate. The report found that just twelve people were responsible for a disproportionate amount of misinformation related to COVID-19, and cited the Bollingers as “anti-vax entrepreneurs who run a network of accounts that market books and DVDs about vaccines, cancer and COVID-19”.
As we will explain below, these claims about fluoride and fluoridated toothpaste are unsubstantiated.
Scientific evidence shows fluoride doesn’t cause cavities; it reduces them
Fluoride is a mineral that helps reduce dental cavities (also called dental caries) by strengthening tooth enamel, the outer protective layer of the teeth. It works through a process called remineralization, where fluoride ions are incorporated into the enamel, replacing lost minerals like calcium and phosphate. This process makes the enamel more resistant to acid attacks from bacteria in the mouth, which are typically caused by the breakdown of sugars in food.
Fluoride can be delivered through toothpaste, mouth rinses, or professionally applied treatments, all of which help protect teeth from decay over time. Contrary to the reel’s claim, scientific evidence shows that regular use of fluoride, especially in communities with fluoridated water, contributes to better oral health and fewer cavities.
A 2024 Cochrane review of more than 150 studies found that community water fluoridation “may lead to a slightly greater reduction in [decayed, missing or filled teeth] and may lead to a slightly greater increase in the proportion of caries‐free children, but with smaller effect sizes than pre‐1975 studies”[1]. The authors speculated that this smaller effect may be due to the more widespread use of fluoridated toothpaste since 1975.
The American Dental Association (ADA) commented on this updated review in an October 2024 press release, sharing:
“The ADA, along with other major health organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, continue to endorse community water fluoridation at optimal levels to help prevent tooth decay. The ADA believes the review does not present any new or significant findings on the subject.”
A 2018 study of nearly 20,000 American children also found that those “living in a county in which 75% or more of the drinking water contained at least 0.7 mg/L fluoride was associated with a 30% reduction in the rate of caries in primary teeth and a 12% reduction in the rate of caries in permanent teeth”[2] This 0.7 mg/L recommendation comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services[3].
And another Cochrane Review of nearly 100 studies published in 2019 found that fluoride toothpaste helps prevent cavities compared to non-fluoride toothpaste[4].
Thus, the claim that fluoride causes cavities simply isn’t true. On the contrary, the scientific evidence shows it helps to reduce cavities.
Consuming fluoridated toothpaste is safe in small amounts
The concern about fluoridated toothpaste’s toxicity in children likely stems from warning labels on toothpaste, a requirement established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997. These warning labels encourage users to keep toothpaste out of children’s reach and to “get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately” if it’s swallowed.
Fluoride toxicity can become a concern when large amounts are ingested over a short period, such as when a child swallows an entire tube of toothpaste. This is why warnings on toothpaste packaging exist, but when used correctly, fluoridated toothpaste is considered safe for children. As the saying goes, the dose makes the poison.
Ingesting small amounts of fluoridated toothpaste is unlikely to be toxic, although it can irritate the stomach and cause gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Poison Control elaborates:
“It is unlikely for a child to have anything beyond a short-term upset stomach from eating over-the-counter toothpaste. In rare cases, if an excessive amount of fluoridated toothpaste is swallowed, there can be more serious problems. Fluoride can lower the amount of calcium and magnesium in the body. This is unlikely to occur from unintentional ingestions by children, especially of over-the-counter toothpaste. Giving the child a snack or beverage containing calcium (e.g., milk, yogurt) will help an upset stomach because calcium binds with fluoride, limiting any potential side effects. Despite being considered safe, toothpaste is still medicine, and should be handled and stored as such.”
The Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health also shared there is a low likelihood that fluoridated toothpaste could cause fluoride toxicity in a fact sheet published for health professionals. They said:
“According to one estimate, the acute dose that could cause serious systemic toxicity for fluoride is 5 mg/kg [of body weight]…This dose would be virtually impossible to achieve from water or toothpaste containing standard levels of added fluoride.”
No solid evidence of an association between fluoride and increased cancer risk
Numerous studies have addressed the potential link between fluoride and bone cancer. The alleged association between fluoride and bone cancer may stem from a 1990 animal study, which found that very high levels of fluoride exposure were associated with an increased risk of bone cancer, particularly osteosarcoma, a rare but aggressive form of bone cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, “One theory on how fluoridation might affect the risk of osteosarcoma is based on the fact that fluoride tends to collect in parts of bones where they are growing. These areas, known as growth plates, are where osteosarcomas typically develop. The theory is that fluoride might somehow cause the cells in the growth plate to grow faster, which might make them more likely to eventually become cancerous.”
However, studies in humans have been inconclusive, with large-scale reviews finding no clear evidence that typical fluoride levels in drinking water are associated with an increased risk of bone cancer. For example, one such review found no association between fluoride and bone cancer in 12 of 14 studies evaluated, but also found more research in this area is needed given the low methodological quality of the studies assessed[5].
Dental fluorosis as a side effect of fluoride is primarily seen in children under eight years of age
Dental fluorosis from fluoride exposure primarily occurs among children from birth to the age of eight. It’s typically associated with water sources that are naturally high in fluoride.
Such excessive fluoride intake can disrupt the normal mineralization of tooth enamel, leading to cosmetic changes such as white spots, brown staining, or rough enamel. The condition isn’t typically harmful to dental function and is primarily cosmetic. In mild cases, treatment is typically not needed. Severe fluorosis may require cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening or bonding.
Conclusion
The claims made in the Facebook reel about the dangers of fluoride are not supported by the scientific evidence. Fluoride has been shown to reduce dental cavities, and its presence in water and toothpaste is endorsed by health organizations like the CDC and ADA. Concerns about fluoride’s safety, including its link to cancer or toxicity, are largely unfounded, with studies showing no reliable evidence of harm at recommended levels.
REFERENCES
- 1 – Iheozor-Ejiofor et al. (2024) Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
- 2 – Slade et al. (2018) Water Fluoridation and Dental Caries in U.S. Children and Adolescents. Journal of Dental Research.
- 3 – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Panel on Community Water Fluoridation. (2015) U.S. Public Health Service Recommendation for Fluoride Concentration in Drinking Water for the Prevention of Dental Caries. Public Health Reports.
- 4 – Walsh et al. (2019) Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
- 5 – Hajduga et al. (2025) Exposure to fluoride and risk of primary bone cancer: A systematic review. Bone.
