Recommendations of the Finnish Dental Association

The aim of the recommendations of the Finnish Dental Association is to promote and maintain the population's oral health by guiding consumers' choices with the help of recommendations.

Applying for recommendations, compensations for recommendations and use of revenues

  • Applications are submitted to the Finnish Dental Association, which then refers them to its appointed recommendation committee before issuing any recommendation.
  • Any revenues received will be donated to dental research and health promotion projects.

Criteria for issuing recommendations

  • Recommendations may be issued for fluoride toothpastes and xylitol products on the basis of documents without the consideration of the recommendation committee.
  • Recommendations for other preventive dental care products and toothbrushes may be issued only on the basis of consideration by the recommendation committee.
  • Detailed descriptions of the procedures for obtaining a recommendation are written below by product category.

 

Fluoride toothpaste

It shall be a condition of issuing a recommendation that the applicant appends to the application a statement from an independent laboratory confirming that the product meets the following requirements:

  • Toothpastes for adults must contain soluble fluoride 1450 ppm and toothpastes for small children 1000-1100 ppm.
  • The fluoride assay has been performed both as a total fluoride assay and as an assay of the soluble fluoride component, and is specified as a fluoride ion concentration.

Statement:

"The Finnish Dental Association recommends the use of fluoride toothpaste in care of the teeth"

or

"The Finnish Dental Association recommends the use of fluoride toothpaste twice daily in care of the teeth"

 

The Finnish Dental Association's standpoint on the use of triclosan in toothpaste products

Good eating habits are the most important factor in preventing oral cavities. It is also crucial to get sufficient amount of fluoride. In Finland, the most important source of this substance are fluoride toothpastes.

Since 1970s, the Finnish Dental Association has issued its recommendation for toothpastes that contain a certain amount of soluble fluoride.

It is recommended to brush teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day.

However, the recommendation issued by the Finnish Dental Association for toothpaste products does not concern any other properties or substances of a product. Further, a recommendation printed on the product packaging may not give such an impression.

Some toothpastes contain triclosan, the use of which in toothpastes as well as in various other consumer products has been questioned due to environmental reasons. Triclosan added in a toothpaste may have a caries-preventing effect.

However, the standpoint of the Finnish Dental Association is that toothpastes containing triclosan should not be recommended for common use. An individual consumer should use these toothpastes only if one's dentist has so considered, and this should also be reflected in the product packaging labels. Children should not use any triclosan toothpastes at all.

 

Xylitol products

Receiving a recommendation requires that the applicant appends to the application a statement from an independent laboratory confirming that the product meets the following requirements:

  • The xylitol content of the product should be high (preferably > 30 per cent) and it alone must constitute no less than 50 per cent of the weight of all sweeteners used.
  • The product must not contain sucrose, glucose, starch syrup, fructose or other easily fermentable carbohydrates such as easily digestible starch. Instead, polyols such as sorbitol, mannitol and maltitol as well as intensive sweeteners are acceptable as other sweeteners.
  • The product should not result in a plaque pH drop below pH 6 in an in vivo acid production test (accepted methods microtouch or telemetric pH monitoring).
  • Only minuscule amounts of acids may be present in the product. Citric acid is not allowed (it is not listed as an ingredient). However, it can be used as an excipient of aromas, colours and concentrates. The concentration of the citric acid must be able to be documented and it cannot be higher than 0,05 %.
  • This recommendation shall be issued only on the basis of inspection and testing of an individual product and its detailed content description.

Statement:

"The Finnish Dental Association recommends the use of xylitol in care of the teeth"

or

"The Finnish Dental Association recommends xylitol"

 

Toothbrush recommendations

It shall be a condition of issuing a recommendation that the recommendation committee considers the product to be suitable for the intended purpose and to be safe in the said use.

Statement:

"The Finnish Dental Association recommends the cleaning of teeth at least twice daily"

or

"The Finnish Dental Association recommends the brushing of teeth at least twice daily"

 

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Products with the recommendation

 

Fluoride toothpastes

 
Berner Oy

Oxygenol Sinkki

Oxygenol Muumi, Niiskuneiti, 3-5-vuotiaat

 
Unilever Finland Oy, Pepsodent

Xylitol

2Teho

Junior 7-13

Super Fluor

Micro-Granule

X-fresh Limemint

X-fresh Aquamint

X-fresh Mint Freeze

X-fresh Menthol Cool

White Now

White Now Infinite White

White Now Gold

White Now Forever White

White System

White System Pure

Long Active Fresh Breath

Long Active White Fresh

Long Active Intensive Cleaning

Long Active Nature Elements Charcoal White & Pure

Long Active Nature Elements Clove Sensitive

Long Active Nature Elements Coco White

Long Active Nature Elements Baking Soda Clean and Fresh

 

Toothbrushes

 
Unilever Finland Oy, Pepsodent

Kids 1-6

Junior 7-13

4-pack Soft

Professional Extra Soft

Professional Soft

Professional Medium

Silver Charcoal

Super Clean Soft

Super Clean Medium

Vertical Expert Soft

Vertical Expert Medium

Ultra Reach Extra Soft

Ultra Reach Soft

Ultra Reach Medium

White System Soft

White System Medium

Nature Element Himalyan Rock Salt Soft

Nature Elements Bamboo Salt Soft

Natural Bamboo Soft

Eco Clean Soft

Complete Care sähköhammasharjan vaihtopäät

Sensitive sähköhammasharjan vaihtopäät

White System sähköhammasharjan vaihtopäät

 

Xylitol pastilles

 
Cloetta Suomi Oy

Jenkki Herra Hakkaraisen täysksylitolipastilli Banaani

Jenkki Herra Hakkaraisen täysksylitolipastilli Päärynä

Jenkki Herra Hakkaraisen täysksylitolipastilli Mansikka

Jenkki Herra Hakkaraisen täysksylitolipastilli Mustikka +D

Jenkki Original Cool Mint pastilli

Jenkki Original Polkamint pastilli

Jenkki Original Hopeatoffee pastilli

Jenkki Original Smoothie mix pastilli

Läkerol Dents Menthol

Läkerol Dents Sitruuna

Läkerol Dents Sweetmint

Läkerol Dents Apple Fresh White

Läkerol Dents Strawberry Cream

Läkerol Dents Liqourice Vanilla

Läkerol Dents Pear-Banana

Mynthon Xylitol Eucalyptus +B-vit ja Kalsium

 
Fazer Oy

Fazer Xylimax PRO sitruuna-greippi täysksylitolipastilli 38 g

Fazer Xylimax PRO vadelma täysksylitolipastilli 38 g

Fazer Xylimax PRO piparminttu täysksylitolipastilli 38 g

Fazer Xylimax PRO eucamenthol täysksylitolipastilli 38 g

Fazer Xylimax Moomin metsämansikka-persikkavadelma pastilli 55 g

Fazer Xylimax Moomin appelsiini-mandariini pastilli 55 g

Fazer Xylimax Moomin metsämansikka-persikkavadelma täysksylitolipastilli 90 g

Fazer Xylimax Pikku kakkosen päärynä täysksylitolipastilli 90 g

Fazer Xylimax Katti Matikainen vadelma täysksylitolipastilli 90 g

 

Xylitol chewing gums

 
Cloetta Suomi Oy

Jenkki Original Peppermint

Jenkki Original Spearmint

Jenkki Original Salmiac

Jenkki Original Sweetmint

Jenkki Original Mint Mix

Jenkki Original Fruit Mix

Jenkki Original Citrus Mix

Jenkki Professional Fresh Mint

Jenkki Professional Ice Menthol

Jenkki Professional Cool Peppermint

Jenkki Professional Fresh Apple

Jenkki Professional Fresh Strawberry +C-vitamiini

Jenkki Professional Cool Lemongrass +fluoridi

Jenkki Professional Tasty Salmiac +fluoridi

Jenkki Professional Classic Spearmint

Jenkki Professional Junior Herra Hakkarainen

Jenkki Enjoy Raspberry-Liquorice

Jenkki Enjoy Cotton Candy

Jenkki Enjoy Pineapple Slush

Jenkki Enjoy Mango-Grapefruit

Jenkki Enjoy Strawberry Ice Cream

Jenkki Fresh Breezy Menthol

Mynthon purukumi Aquamenthol

Mynthon purukumi Cool Mint

 
Fazer Oy

Fazer Xylimax PRO Piparminttu täysksylitolipurukumi 80 g

Fazer Xylimax PRO Swiss Mint täysksylitolipurukumi 80 g

Fazer Xylimax PRO Trio täysksylitolipurukumi 130 g

Fazer Xylimax Moomin omena-piparminttu täysksylitolipurukumi 100 g

Fazer Xylimax Moomin vadelma-hedelmä täysksylitolipurukumi 100 g

Fazer Xylimax Moomin hedelmä täysksylitolipurukumi 5 palaa / 6,5 g

 
SOK

Rainbow Täysksylitolipurukumi hedelmä mix 130 g

 

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