So gefährlich ist Zahnpasta wirklich! I Most Wanted

Main Ideas

The video investigates claims that fluoride toothpaste is dangerous, including social-media warnings that fluoride makes people “stupid,” weakens teeth or bones, or causes “toothpaste poisoning.”

Fluoride and fluorine are not the same thing. The presenters compare the distinction to chloride in table salt versus chlorine. The video discusses fluoride compounds used in toothpaste—not elemental fluorine.

Why Fluoride Helps Protect Teeth

Tooth enamel is made mainly of hydroxyapatite, which begins to dissolve when the mouth becomes sufficiently acidic. Acids can come from foods and drinks, and mouth bacteria produce more acid when they break down sugar.

Saliva helps restore minerals to enamel after acid exposure. Frequent sugary or acidic exposures can leave too little time for recovery and contribute to tooth decay.

Fluoride can help form fluorapatite, which is more resistant to acid than hydroxyapatite. The video says research—including a Cochrane review and controlled studies involving children—supports the use of fluoride toothpaste to reduce cavities.

The video also points to a decline in tooth decay among children in Germany since fluoride toothpaste became widely used, while noting that studies—not just the trend—support fluoride’s role.

Fluorosis and Safety

Dental fluorosis is real: it can occur when too much fluoride is swallowed while teeth are developing. It may appear as white marks; the video says mild white lines or cloudy spots are generally harmless. Yellow or brown marks can indicate a more serious case.

The video reports that roughly one in ten teenagers in Germany has white spots on their front teeth, but emphasizes that most cases are mild.

Skeletal fluorosis can affect bones after very high fluoride intake over a long period. The presenters say this would require at least about 14 mg of fluoride daily for several years and is virtually impossible to reach through ordinary toothpaste use.

The video rejects the idea that normal, recommended use of fluoride toothpaste causes poisoning. It notes that ingesting a very large amount of toothpaste can be dangerous, but the quantities mentioned are far beyond normal brushing. The “three tubes” and “20–30 tubes” figures are presented as dramatic estimates, not safe thresholds.

On claims that fluoride lowers IQ, the presenters say there is no reliable evidence for that at the very low exposures discussed—from drinking water in their context and recommended toothpaste use. They refer viewers to a separate episode for a fuller discussion.

Toothpaste-Use Guidance

The video cites recommendations from German pediatric and dental associations:

• Adults: Brush twice daily with toothpaste containing 1,000–1,500 ppm fluoride. The presenters note that EU toothpaste is limited to a maximum of 1,500 ppm.
• Children: Use toothpaste containing 1,000 ppm fluoride, with age-appropriate amounts:
  • Until the second birthday: a rice-grain-sized amount.
  • From age two until the sixth birthday: a pea-sized amount twice daily, with supervision.

The video cautions against combining fluoride toothpaste with fluoride supplements without appropriate guidance. The cited advice says children should not receive supplements as well as fluoride toothpaste.

The presenters’ overall conclusion is that fluoride toothpaste is preferable for most people unless there is a medical reason to avoid it. They say recommended amounts make fluorosis or overdose a dosage issue to manage—not a reason to assume ordinary brushing is poisoning.

Retailer Website Claim

The presenters compare two statements on dm’s website: one described fluoride-free toothpaste as suited to baby teeth, while another gave recommendations for fluoride toothpaste and described its cavity protection.

After being contacted, dm reportedly said fluoride-free toothpaste was sold as an alternative, not because it was especially suited to milk teeth, and that it would review the wording. The presenters say the wording was still present on the site as of November 7.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Jonathan Focke and Maximilian Dökel — the Quarks Science Cops presenters and investigators.
• Fabian Kowallik — an influencer cited for the claim that fluoride makes people stupid.
• Other unnamed social-media influencers — cited for warnings against fluoride toothpaste and claims about fluorosis, teeth, and bones.
• dm press office — quoted in response to questions about its website statements.
• Scientific and professional sources discussed: the Cochrane Collaboration review on fluoride and tooth decay; randomized studies of children using fluoride toothpaste; German pediatric and dental association guidance; and the World Health Organization’s listing of fluoride toothpaste as an essential medicine.