§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what public information campaign is planned by his Department to ensure that children younger than six years of age do not use fluoride mouth rinses.
§ Mr. DorrellLabelling on mouth rinses containing fluoride which are marketed as medicinal products gives advice on their appropriate use. Such advice might not be given on similar mouth rinses which are marketed as cosmetic products. Negotiations are currently being conducted with the Cosmetic, Toiletries and Perfumery Association for such advice to be included on the labels of cosmetic mouth rinses.
§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what public information campaign his Department is planning to encourage parents to make toothpaste containing 400 parts per million of fluoride available to their children;
(2) what is the maximum level of fluoride concentration permitted in toothpastes sold in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. DorrellThe Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1989 and the Medicines (Products Other than Veterinary Drugs) (Prescriptions Only) Order 1983 both impose an upper limit of 1,500 parts per million on the concentration of fluoride ion which may be contained in toothpastes on general sale. A toothpaste with a fluoride148W ion content in excess of 1500 parts per million would be regarded as a medicinal product only available on the prescription of a doctor or a dentist.
The licensing authority provided under the Medicines Act 1968 does not regard a product containing less than 600 parts per million fluoride ion as efficacious in preventing dental caries. We therefore have no plans to encourage parents to make toothpastes containing 400 parts per million of fluoride available to their children.