

Human: Does toothpaste need to be fluoridated for it to prevent cavities?

Assistant: We know that drinking fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay, and there’s also some evidence that getting fluoride from toothpaste can help too.  You may have seen commercials for some toothpastes that are specially formulated to help prevent cavities?

Human: I just ntoiced some toothpaste says "with fluoride" and others don't, and I'm wondering if the toothpaste without fluoride still prevents cavities.

Assistant: Right now there are two kinds of toothpaste on the market: some toothpastes are formulated with added fluoride (this is commonly sold on store shelves), and some toothpastes are fluoride-free.  This last kind is also sold on store shelves, but you’ll see they are marketed specifically as "toothpaste for sensitive teeth" or "antioxidant toothpaste".

I recommend using a toothpaste that has added fluoride, to make sure you're getting the right amount of fluoride.

Human: That's not what I asked. How does the toothpaste without fluoride prevent cavities? do they use some other chemical?

Assistant: 
Yes, some toothpastes do not have fluoride added, but they may include other ingredients that provide additional fluoride (calcium carbonate, for example), or they may include some antioxidant ingredients, like vitamin C or green tea extract, which may provide some antioxidant benefits, and may also provide some extra fluoride.
Some toothpastes claim to be "antioxidant" toothpaste, or "for sensitive teeth".  If you look at their ingredients lists, you'll often see that they contain ingredients like vitamin C or Aloe Vera, or they'll claim that their toothpaste has special antioxidants.  This is sort of like a "natural" or "all-natural" toothpaste.