Perioral Dermatitis and Fluoride Toothpaste

Perioral dermatitis is one of those conditions that shows up out of nowhere and makes you feel like your skin is working against you. It usually looks like tiny bumps or irritation around the mouth, nose, or even the eyes. And one of the most common triggers I see is actually heavy, high-fluoride toothpaste.

Fluoride is not “bad,” but certain forms can be extremely irritating to the delicate skin around the mouth. Every time you brush, a little bit of toothpaste foam sits on the corners of your lips. Over time, this repeated exposure can break down your skin barrier and trigger inflammation. It is basically the perfect setup for perioral dermatitis.

What makes it even trickier is that the rash can look like acne, but it does not respond to acne products. In fact, most acne treatments make it worse because they dry the area out even more.

If you are dealing with perioral dermatitis, switching to a low-fluoride or fluoride-free toothpaste is one of the first things I recommend. Choose something gentle, SLS-free, and fragrance-free. Most people see a noticeable improvement within a few weeks once the irritant is removed.

The skin around your mouth is incredibly sensitive. What touches it every single day truly matters. Sometimes the fix is much simpler than we think.

Sources

1. Katta R, Schlichte M. Oral products and perioral dermatitis. Dermatitis.

2. Lipozenčić J et al. Perioral dermatitis: Causes and triggers. Clinics in Dermatology.

3. Abeck D, Neri I. Perioral dermatitis in children and adults. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

4. Guin JD. Irritant reactions to fluoride-containing products. Cutis.