Duraphat Toothpaste

Stompa

My dentist has just prescribed me Duraphat toothpaste. He suggested that it is better if you don't rinse after use, so that it keeps in contact with the teeth for longer.

However, the instructions state that it is 'not to be swallowed'. Surely you're more likely to ingest some (albeit small quantities) if you don't rinse? Or am I missing something here?

Thanks

frivolous_fay

My dentist recently told me not to rinse either. (Bog standard toothpaste)

I figure that there's not much of it left on the teeth for me to worry about swallowing it. But then I don't know how potent your toothpaste is, or what it's got in it that's so noxious!

tirednewdad

Don't be too worried about swollowing duraphat tooth paste. The worst thing that it will give you is an upset stomache.
No toothpaste should be swollowed (but if you do don't worry about it)

Duraphat works well, but it needs to be incontact with a dry surface. If you rinse it away then it is not as effective.

Hope this helps.

Stompa

Thanks for the responses. The Duraphat I have just contains around 3.3 times as much fluoride as conventional toothpaste. And since fluoride is cumulative, you really don't want to swallow it if at all possible.

Strangely, the instructions for a lower strength version of Duraphat than the one I have here:

http://www.colgateprofessional.co.uk/products/Colgate-Duraphat-2800ppm-Fluoride-Toothpaste/specifics

says: "Spit out after use; for best results do not drink or rinse for 30 minutes."

But for my stronger version here:

http://www.colgateprofessional.co.uk/products/Colgate-Duraphat-5000ppm-Fluoride-Toothpaste/specifics

there's no mention of spitting or rinsing.

MinaB

My dentist told me to clean my teeth before bed with my normal toothpaste and rinse as normal, but then to smear my teeth with the Duraphat stuff, scraping off any that got on my tongue.

With regards to the price, my dentist charges £7.95 for a tube and when I winced at this, the receptionist quickly said that as it had been 'prescribed' for me, I couldn't get it cheaper anywhere else. Is this right?

Loopy_Girl

Work in dental teaching kids and it is correct to spit out the excess (and then do not rinse obviously!!) but clearly some will get swallowed. Flouride is essentially a medicine so the advice not to swallow is correct. A few dribbles every day though isn't going to do any harm. I go round pre school children and they don't have the spit reflex yet so they swallow but as you get older then should spit out as much as you can.

Just remember to use a pea size amount - that is plenty for any kind of toothpaste and quite frankly if you are shelling out for the Duraphat then you don't want to waste it!!

It's great stuff, I use it. Higher concentrate than normal toothpaste and not suitable for everyone so should only be used if told by a dentist.

£7.95 is pretty cheap for it actually! I have seen it alot higher. You cannot get it anywhere else, only if it has been prescribed by a dentist.

Hope this all helps

Stompa

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

Just remember to use a pea size amount - that is plenty for any kind of toothpaste and quite frankly if you are shelling out for the Duraphat then you don't want to waste it!!

FWIW the nozzle on a Duraphat tube is much narrower than on a conventional toothpaste tube, and they suggest you use a 2cm ribbon. I suspect this is probably less than the size of a pea (though of course that depends on your pea!).

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

£7.95 is pretty cheap for it actually! I have seen it alot higher. You cannot get it anywhere else, only if it has been prescribed by a dentist.

My dentist gave me 3 tubes on a single prescription, so £7.10(?) for 3 tubes.

moneysaving_pharmacist

Duraphat is available on prescription. So if you have an NHS dentist, it will be £7.10, regardless of how many tubes are prescribed. If you have a private dentist the cost will depend on how many tubes you are prescribed. Your dentist should write you a prescription so you can shop around for it - I would beat the price a dentist quoted unless it was less than my trade price, which I doubt it would be.

red

MinaB wrote: »

My dentist told me to clean my teeth before bed with my normal toothpaste and rinse as normal, but then to smear my teeth with the Duraphat stuff, scraping off any that got on my tongue.

With regards to the price, my dentist charges £7.95 for a tube and when I winced at this, the receptionist quickly said that as it had been 'prescribed' for me, I couldn't get it cheaper anywhere else. Is this right?

It is cheaper here, I think:

http://www.dentalshop.co.uk/acatalog/Pharmacy_Products.html

Neon_Eye

Does anyone know what is the most effective whitening toothpaste?

Toothsmith

None of them!