A good diet, daily oral hygiene and fluoride intake – these are the three pillars of healthy teeth.

Fluoride helps protect your teeth by strengthening the outer enamel surface. If you get too little fluoride, your teeth might weaken and develop cavities. Cavities can lead to pain, tooth loss, infections, and other health problems.

Fluoride hardens the tooth enamel and helps prevent cavities. Fluoridated toothpastes are recommended for both children and adults regtardless of whether the local water supply is fluoridated. Almost all toothpastes in NZ contain between 1000ppm to 1450ppm of Sodium Fluoride.

Fluoride toothpaste is a well-established method to help prevent dental caries in the general population.

Prescription fluoride toothpaste contains a concentration of fluoride that is 4 times that of normal fluoride toothpaste (5000 parts per million). This is the maximum strength available and it plays an important role in preventing and controlling dental caries (cavities).

It is typically prescribed by dentists for patients who have an increased risk of tooth decay or have a history of dental caries (cavities). It is also recommended for individuals with a dry mouth or taking medications that cause dry mouth, as saliva plays a crucial role in protecting the teeth against decay.

Plaque deposits on your tooth and erodes it, causing the development of cavities. However, during the early stages of cavities, fluoride reverses the cavities and hardens your tooth enamel. Fluoride is proven to protect your teeth from decay by rebuilding your eroded teeth surfaces through remineralization.

Why do some Colgate toothpastes and mouthwashes require a prescription?

Colgate prescription fluoride toothpastes are prescribed by your dentist if it’s determined you need to incorporate a high-fluoride oral care product into your routine. This may be due to high cavity risk, crown and bridge work, orthodontic decalcification, or other concerns. What’s the difference between prescription toothpastes and over the counter varieties?,

Follow your dentist's recommendations on how to use a Colgate prescription fluoride toothpaste as you would any other prescription oral care.