Fluoride supplement Pregnancy: Epidemiological studies in humans indicate that fluoride has no adverse effects in pregnancy or on the health of the foetus or new born child. Fluoride 2800 ppm Toothpaste can be used during pregnancy and lactation. Animal studies have shown reproductive toxicity of sodium fluoride only at very high levels.

Sodium fluoride

Brand names: Duraphat, FluoriGard

Sodium fluoride is a fluoride preparation, available as toothpaste, mouthwash, tablets and varnish, used to prevent dental caries.

Auto-extracted from the source labelling — not yet independently clinician-verified. These values were distilled from the UK SPC (or the US label where noted) but have not had a clinician sign-off. Confirm against the current SmPC before prescribing.

Adult dose

Dose: Apply a 1 cm ribbon of 2,800 ppm fluoride toothpaste onto the toothbrush for each brushing, used daily instead of the normal toothpaste

Route: For dental use — oromucosal use only. Not to be swallowed.

Frequency: Morning and evening (twice daily), brushing carefully and thoroughly for approximately one minute

Max: §4.4: the recommended fluoride ion intake is 0.05 mg/kg body weight per day from all sources, not exceeding 1 mg per day — allowance must be made for possible ingestion of toothpaste (each 75 ml tube of the 2,800 ppm product contains 280 mg of fluoride ions)

Source: UK SPC (eMC) for Fluoride 2800 ppm Toothpaste, §4.2 (https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9576/smpc). METHOD: brush teeth vertically, from the gum to the tip of the teeth; careful brushing takes approximately one minute; spit out after use; for best results do not drink or rinse for 30 minutes. AGE RESTRICTION: §4.2/§4.3 — indicated for adolescents and children aged 10 years or more; contraindicated in children aged under 10 years. EXCIPIENTS (§4.4): contains propylene glycol (may cause skin irritation) and sorbitol solution (patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance should not take this medicine). PRODUCT SCOPE FLAG: this SPC covers the 2,800 ppm toothpaste only. The site page also lists a 5,000 ppm toothpaste and mouthwash regimens (0.05% daily / 0.2% weekly) — no UK source for those is present in this bundle. The US OTC label in the bundle is an anticavity rinse (a different product): 'Adults and children 6 years of age and older: use once a day after brushing your teeth with a toothpaste; vigorously swish 10 millilitres of rinse between your teeth for 1 minute and then spit out; do not swallow the rinse; do not eat or drink for 30 minutes after rinsing; instruct children under 12 years of age in good rinsing habits (to minimize swallowing) and supervise as necessary; children under 6 years of age: consult a dentist or doctor' — US labelling, verify against a UK SPC before publishing. §4.5: no interaction studies have been performed.

Dose auto-extracted from UK Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) via the eMC; US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed) — cross-check; US labelling may differ from UK — not yet clinician-verified. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients
Use by children aged under ten years

Side effects

Immune system disorders — hypersensitivity reactions: rare (>1/10,000, <1/1,000)

Interactions

§4.5: no interaction studies have been performed

Clinical monograph

How it works

Fluoride is incorporated into tooth enamel as fluorapatite, increasing resistance to acid demineralisation and promoting remineralisation, and it also inhibits oral bacterial metabolism.

Prescribing in practice

Excessive fluoride intake, particularly in young children, causes dental fluorosis, so the local water fluoride concentration and total fluoride exposure must be considered before prescribing supplements.
Acute overdose is toxic; keep products out of reach of children and supervise paediatric use.
Tailor the formulation and strength to caries risk and age, following dental and a children's formulary guidance for younger patients.

Monitoring

Periodic dental review assesses caries risk and any signs of fluorosis, with attention to total fluoride exposure including water supply.

Counselling the patient

Spit out toothpaste and avoid rinsing immediately afterwards to retain fluoride benefit.
Supervise children's use and store products safely out of their reach.

Evidence & guidelines

The caries-preventive efficacy of topical and systemic fluoride is well established and underpins NICE and public health dental health guidance.

Reference: NICE NG30; SDCEP; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators

Pathways