Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Billy Danze]

Or, lack thereof, is there a reason for this? Some sort of belief that it's not needed, it's bad, etc. Most toothpaste here doesn't have it. I don't get it, my kids at school have horrible teeth meanwhile.

Not trying to criticize, looking for an answer if there is one.

[kiknkorea]

Not sure why a lot of toothpaste here lacks it, but I buy the Arm & Hammer toothpaste at E-mart. It has fluoride and is decent.
I still bring over Colgate from home, but in a pinch the A&H works well.

[HalfJapanese]

Well, does the water have fluoride in it?

Some countries like Japan don't fluoridate their water because they are not convinced about the longterm benefits of the reduction in caries, plus their is the whole issue about fluoridation of water causing cancer, and sterility in the long-run.

http://www.fluorideinfo.org/

It might not be the lack of fluoride that is causing the bad teeth, but that the country doesn't have a strong habit/campaign for tooth brushing and dental hygiene.

[Beeyee]

[Slowmotion]

[HalfJapanese]

^
That is good to hear. But even though they brush often, are their teeth in pristine condition or horrible? If not that would mean that fluoride isn't necessary to have healthy teeth.

I saw that YouTube Video from "SimionAndMartina" where all the students in Martina all girl school were brushing their teeth after lunch and had their own toothpaste/brush set in their lockers.

http://www.youtube.com/user/simonandmartina

[DeMayonnaise]

This confuses me as well... everyone has a toothbrush at school and the entire student body as well as all the teacher brushes their teeth after lunch, yet a lot of Koreans have some nasty looking teeth.

I'm convinced it's their toothpaste. I tried it for a bit when I came over, but my mouth just never seemed that clean after using it. I don't know if it's the lack of fluoride or what, but Korean toothpaste just sucks.

[CrikeyKorea]

http://www.lovethetruth.com/truth_about_fluoride.htm you can find some info about why large organisations started putting fluoride etc in water...

[DorkothyParker]

I started brushing my teeth after lunch as well, but I still feel like mysmile has degraded in the past year since I've been here. I don't know if it's lack of fluoride, lack of peroxide, or lack of baking soda.

A&H was my fave brand back home, though my husband wouldn't touch the stuff on the ground that it was "salty." I haven't seen it at my grocer, but maybe I haven't been looking hard enough.

Also, I have not felt less docile since my fluoride consumption has gone down. So there's that.

[NYC_Gal]

If you look in enough places, you can also find Sensodyne, which is great stuff, and not as salty as A&H. Worst case, you can always head to Seoul and stock up.

See if someone'll mail you a few tubes of your favorite stuff from home.

[UknowsI]

I didn't know they didn't use fluoride in the toothpaste, but I sensed something was wrong since I take care of my teeth less than any of my Korean friends and still have much healthier teeth. So I just assumed something was wrong with it and brought all my dental products from home.

[HalfJapanese]

Well there are tons of other websites and mainstream articles that have to due with issues about sodium fluoride in water.

For example: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&&sa=X&ei=_8MnTLTIKIn9nAfs-cTqBQ&ved=0CBUQvwUoAQ&q=sodium+fluoride+cancer&spell=1

[brento1138]

I remember my Canadian dentist heard I was going to Korea and said not to bother with the toothpaste there as it contains lots salt rather than fluoride. I never found a Korean toothpaste I quite like, and still use Crest which I've brought over from Canada.

[salgichawa]

[UknowsI]

I guess I feel like being an internet warrior today, I'm sure I'll regret it later...