An assessment of the current status of children’s toothpaste in Australia

Abstract

Background Despite recommendations that pre‐school children use toothpaste containing 500–550 ppm of fluoride, there has been an increase in non‐fluoridated toothpastes marketed for children. This study investigated children’s toothpaste in Australia. Methods A comprehensive audit of all toothpastes marketed for pre‐school children and available in store in the Macarthur region of NSW, Australia, was carried out. All toothpastes available for purchase were obtained and examined; size and price were catalogued, along with ingredient lists and fluoride levels. Results One hundred and seven individual toothpastes were identified in the audit, with 67 (62.6%) containing no fluoride. Of the 40 fluoridated toothpastes, only 11 (10.3%) contained the recommended level of fluoride of 500–550 ppm. Twenty‐two (20.6%) of all toothpastes were made in Australia, all of which were non‐fluoridated. Six (5.6%) of the toothpastes studied contained excessive levels of fluoride (1350–1500 ppm). Seventeen of the 20 least expensive toothpastes contained fluoride, while 18 of the 20 most expensive toothpastes were non‐fluoridated. Conclusions Despite expert recommendations, the majority of children’s toothpaste available in Australia contains either no fluoride or the wrong levels of fluoride. Further study is needed to determine why this change is occurring and what is influencing the increase in non‐fluoride toothpastes on the market.

In vitro study on the preventive effect of children’s toothpastes on erosive tooth wear of primary bovine enamel and dentin

“…Finally, toothpastes with active ingredients other than fluorides, e.g. hydroxyapatite, were hardly analysed so far, although they are increasingly available on the market 17 , 18 .…”

Optimal fluoride levels in pediatric toothpastes: A review of the literature

“…Additionally, they point out the importance of ensuring that the total fluoride concentration does not exceed 1500 ppm. This correlation between the recommendations of both research teams emphasizes the relevance of carefully choosing toothpastes, considering both the anti-caries efficacy and the established concentration limits, to guarantee optimal oral health Following the guidelines of Smith et al (17), the need to adjust the fluoride concentration in toothpastes based on the age of the children is emphasized. They recommend specific concentrations: 500 ppm to 550 ppm for children under 6 years of age, and 1000 ppm to 1500 ppm for those over 6 years of age.…”

The 20-Year Trends in Caries and Associated Determinants among Adults in Post-Soviet Lithuania: Repeated Cross-Sectional Studies

“…In the former Soviet Union countries, the majority of toothpastes did not contain fluorides and fluoridated toothpastes first became gradually available after the 1990s. However, the growing interest in herbal [Janakiram et al, 2020] and non-fluoridated toothpastes [Smith et al, 2021] internationally seems also to be the case in Lithuania. Unfortunately, there are no studies or official statistics about the proportions of toothpastes with and without fluorides on the Lithuanian market, and non-fluoridated toothpastes are available in every supermarket, pharmacy, or online.…”