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The Evidence Base of Fluoride Videos on TikTok
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The Evidence Base of Fluoride Videos on TikTok

Annel Lueth and Lance Brendan Young
International journal of dental hygiene
08/21/2026
DOI: 10.1111/idh.70151
PMID: 42629642
url
https://doi.org/10.1111/idh.70151View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The fluoride controversy has intensified in recent years, partly due to new research suggesting negative health effects. Simultaneously, TikTok has become a prominent platform for disseminating oral health-related content, but its accuracy remains uncertain. The purpose of this study is to evaluate TikTok videos addressing fluoride use, comparing the characteristics of videos which are evidence-based to those which are not. A quantitative content analysis was conducted of the first videos (N = 120) which met the search criteria: provided by TikTok in response to the search string, 'fluoride vs. no fluoride'; publicly accessible; and English-language content. Videos were viewed and coded on the following seven variables: message content (evidence base); source; fluoride position; editing style; length; view rate (views/month); and interaction index (likes/views). Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi square, independent-samples t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests. Only 22.5% of the videos were evidence-based and only 40.0% were pro-fluoride, although 54.1% of the sources were health professionals. Evidence-based videos were more likely to be produced by health professionals (χ  = 7.18, df = 2, p = 0.028), carry a pro-fluoride message (χ  = 11.91, df = 2, p = 0.003), and be longer (t = 2.16, df = 118, p = 0.033) than videos without an evidence base. The evidence-based videos did not significantly differ in editing style, view rate, or interaction index. People using TikTok for clarity on fluoride are less likely to find evidence-based videos, and those videos tend to be pro-fluoride, feature health professionals and be longer than videos which are not evidence based.
 fluoride oral health TikTok caries prevention social media dental care

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