Oral Care

Toothpaste and Everyday Oral Care

Explore fluoride and fluoride-free toothpaste, children’s tooth gel and other oral-care products from established brands. Compare age guidance, ingredients, flavour and usage directions on each product page.

Children should use oral-care products under adult supervision and according to the product label.

Frequently asked questions

Fluoride or fluoride-free?

Fluoride is the ingredient with by far the strongest evidence for preventing tooth decay, and dental bodies across the EU recommend it. Fluoride-free toothpastes — several Weleda products are formulated this way — clean effectively and suit people who prefer to avoid it or who get fluoride from other sources, but they do not offer the same decay protection. That is a genuine trade-off worth making knowingly. Ask your dentist what suits your situation.

What does the ppm number on toothpaste mean?

Parts per million of fluoride. Adult toothpaste is typically 1350–1500 ppm. Children's toothpaste is lower, and the appropriate concentration and amount both depend on age — the packaging states them. Higher-strength pastes exist on prescription for people at high decay risk.

How much toothpaste should a child use?

The standard guidance is a smear the size of a grain of rice under three years, and a pea-sized amount from three to six, with brushing supervised so the child spits rather than swallows. Follow the age guidance printed on your specific product, and ask your dentist or child health centre if you are unsure.

Should I rinse with water after brushing?

No — spit, do not rinse. Rinsing washes away the fluoride that would otherwise keep working on the tooth surface. This is one of the few oral-care tips that is both free and genuinely evidence-based, and most people are doing the opposite.

Does whitening toothpaste actually whiten teeth?

It removes surface stains from coffee, tea and tobacco through mild abrasives or, in some formulas, activated charcoal. It does not change the underlying colour of the tooth, which is what most people mean by whitening. Abrasive pastes used aggressively can also wear enamel over time — more is not better here.

Is mouthwash necessary?

Not for most people. Brushing twice daily and cleaning between teeth does the substantive work; mouthwash is an addition rather than a replacement, and using it straight after brushing can rinse away concentrated fluoride from the toothpaste. If you use one, a separate time of day makes more sense.