There's also evidence that brushing with toothpaste ("dentifrice" in scientific papers) does not remove plaque any more effectively than brushing with plain wat

There's also evidence that brushing with toothpaste ("dentifrice" in scientific papers) does not remove plaque any more effectively than brushing with plain water: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27513809 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27513809 Toothpaste can also deliver fluoride, but I drink a lot of tea (which concentrates fluoride from the soil) so I'm more concerned about excessive fluoride exposure than too little. I've been brushing my teeth with plain water for years and they are as healthy as ever.