Is brushing your teeth without toothpaste as effective as with toothpaste?

Answer 1

Practically yes, if you discount the beneficial effects of fluoride.

AnswerYes, it is basically the same. There are lots of arguments against fluoride, too. Everything I have read so far, by googling, in answering this question for my girlfriend, is that brushing is far more important to do than what you brush with. As well as flossing. There is lots of warnings about getting too much fluoride, and considering that it is toxic like chlorine is, in different forms, no swallowing, and only use pea size for kids, contrary to the big dollop the ads would have us use...I don't like using fluoridated stuff, especially with it in the water.

There is a big story as to how it got into our water, which I need to research further (wartime company with tons of toxic fluoride material from some manufacturing, found supposedly that it prevents decay by hardening teeth, which some dispute now, and so sold it to the legislators (bought them off) and now we have it in water).

Anyway, lots of dentist sites say that brushing is the main thing. The gunk in most toothpaste (foaming stuff), etc that now has some bad press itself as it may cause cavities, too, etc, shows that really, flossing and brushing a good long time are the key to keeping cavity free. One dentist says that no toothpaste brushing for 20 minutes is what will keep plaque away. with toothpaste is ok, but to avoid cavities and dental bills, do the brushing and flossing. Doesn't matter then what toothpaste you use, really.