To think this is stupid at best, borderline neglect at worst?

[Giratina]

Just seen an acquaintance on Facebook who sells that awful aloe Vera stuff post a picture of their young child holding a tube of this aloe Vera toothpaste saying how much the child loves it. AIBU to think it's bloody stupid to give a child toothpaste which contains no fluoride and she is possibly setting the poor child up for dental problems in the future. If adults want to use the stuff then whatever, that's up to them but I don't think it should be given to children.

How can anyone pay £7.99 for a tube of toothpaste?

Madness.

Well she's a tit for selling that kind of bollocks but no, she isn't neglecting her child.

There are plenty of toothpastes available with less than the recommended levels of fluoride, some without any at all. Like with flossing, some people don't choose to follow all dental advice for themselves or their children. If her child really does use that, and only that, to brush with, their teeth are still being cleaned.

I wouldn't call it neglect though it is probably stupid.

I'm utterly shocked by the price of the toothpaste though!! Who spends £7on a tube let alone the £13 it's reduced from for the offer!

Fluoride in the water works if they drink it, what about the ones who only drink fizzy drinks etc?

Their teeth have a bigger issue with the carbonated drinks than the lack of fluoride.

Hackedabove- much tongue holding required.

Theres not enough fluoride in the water to rely on it alone to prevent tooth decay. This is true even in areas such as Birmingham that have more fluoride than others.

If you are going to not use a fluoride toothpaste then you're going to have to omit pretty much all sugar in your diet (natural sugars in fruits too) to stand much of a chance of having any teeth left.

I think it's up to the parents. The government says we all need fluoride, but up until a few months ago, as a pregnant woman I was advised to not eat eggs, and a few years ago would have been prescribed beer. The government can only do its best to give advice; we need to decide for ourselves and on behalf of our kids whether to follow it.

Definitely no fluoride in the water in my county. It was epilepsy medication which ruined my DDs teeth - she has never eaten a sweet in her life.

I thought there was a study that said brushing your teeth with bicarb was just as effective as using toothpaste? As far as I know bicarb doesn't contain fluoride.

Which county are you in Bigbluebus? I wasn't aware that any of the counties in the UK were fluoride free.

I am sure you are aware that there are other food substances other than sweets that have sugar. Its in most food substances to a varying degree.

Smile and wave Boozy, smile and wave!

Trifle when did the egg advice happen ? Don't remember ever being told NOT to eat eggs ? Is this a new thing ?

Well, runny eggs - same difference. Medical advice is constantly changing.

I don't think runny eggs is comparable. Pregnant women were advised against runny eggs due to salmonella risk. Steps were taken to reduce this risk. Now the risk is negligible the advice has changed.

Medical advice does change over time as knowledge improves (ie your alcohol in pregnancy example). However, advice to use fluoride is pretty longstanding and seems unlikely to change any time soon.

No this isn't neglect.

Which county are you in Bigbluebus? I wasn't aware that any of the counties in the UK were fluoride free.

Only about 10% of England has fluoride added to the water.

Scotland doesnt add fluoride to any water systems. I think its the same for Wales and N.I too.

True, but examples abound of medical advice changing over time in general. People have to make their own judgement calls.

Guidelines are so called because they are to guide. We don't live in north Korea. Neglect is a huge over reaction.

Not neglect. Just trying to peddle her goods I think, though it is a very misguided way of doing this

Map of areas with any fluoride in tap water, England.

FFS, I'm so fed up of people on here screeching neglect everytime someone parents in a way that goes against current guidelines.

Good for you OP, you obviously have no experience of neglect.

My kids love chocolate spread, perhaps I'll use that as toothpaste too .... Or perhaps I'll stick with something that research shows is best
Not neglect, just stupidity!!

My kids love chocolate spread, perhaps I'll use that as toothpaste too .... Or perhaps I'll stick with something that research shows is best
Not neglect, just stupidity!!

Colgate make a toothpaste for babies / young children that contains zero flouride, I shudder to think who would buy it. No doubt some parents see the child friendly looking tube and think they need to buy it as young children must not need flouride if Colgate make a specific toothpaste for them.

Forever Living people will do anything to sell their rubbish, morals and ethics go out of the window.

In the USA it's difficult to find a child toothpaste with fluoride. When my brother moved there I took him some.

But you don't need a child's toothpaste with flouride. A small smear of adult toothpaste with flouride is fine.