Man’s beard with a few grey hairs. Source: AI Generated
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Claim: An Instagram user claims fluoride in toothpaste is responsible for premature grey hair in men.
Verdict: False. DUBAWA found no scientific, medical, or regulatory evidence that links fluoride or toothpaste to men’s grey hair.
Full Text
Fluoride is a mineral found in water, soil, foods, and most dental products. Global health bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the American Dental Association (ADA) consistently emphasise that fluoride in toothpaste is safe when used as recommended. Moreover, it significantly reduces tooth decay.
According to Healthline, greying is a natural biological process driven by several factors, including genetics, ageing, stress, and vitamin deficiencies, particularly cobalamin (B12), iron, and copper.
An Instagram user, northern_vine, shared a video (archived here) showing a man asserting that many young men do not develop grey hair in their beards due to age, but rather to fluoride exposure from toothpaste.
He stated that when toothpaste water drips onto the chin during tooth brushing, it can affect hair follicles and lead to premature hair greying.
As of Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, the Instagram video had garnered 6,991 views and 185 likes.
Other Instagram users shared different views about the post.
@zumariouss countered the claim, noting, “Hair greying is natural; even 12-year-olds in my family have it, while some families have people in their fifties without a single grey hair.”
Another user, @mcyareema, responded by implying he would now intensify brushing to “bring out” the grey hairs.
To curb online misinformation and disinformation, DUBAWA decided to verify the authenticity of the post.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a survey of official information from major global health bodies, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), American Dental Association (ADA), Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
We discovered that the ADA states that excess fluoride ingestion during tooth development is a leading factor to dental fluorosis, ranging from faint white streaks to more visible enamel pitting. The CDC advises parents to supervise children and ensure they spit out toothpaste rather than swallow it.
Similarly, the WHO highlights the effects of prolonged high-fluoride exposure, which can contribute to dental and skeletal fluorosis.
But none of these bodies identifies hair greying as a side effect of fluoride.
Experts’ opinions
DUBAWA contacted Aliyu Argungu, a dermatologist at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto (UDUTH), for his professional view. He explained that there is no foundation for the claim.
“I have not encountered any clinical case where fluoride was identified as the cause of greying of the hair. Neither have I come across a study linking fluoride exposure to greying of hair in men,” he told DUBAWA.
Aliyu emphasised that greying is caused by age, genetic predisposition, pigmentary disorders, stress, and possibly smoking, not fluoride. This stance aligns with existing medical studies and reports mentioned earlier.
Furthermore, Sani Gumel, a chemistry professor at Bayero University Kano, told DUBAWA that grey hair is a natural biological development, and individuals can begin to experience it at different stages of life, including early adulthood.
He explained that the major factors behind greying are ageing, metabolic pressure, and stress, all of which can contribute to a decline in melanin production in hair follicles.
“Although fluoride is a chemical substance, and prolonged exposure to any chemical can have certain physiological effects, there is no known chemical pathway or scientific evidence linking fluoride exposure to greying of hair,” Sani told DUBAWA.
Conclusion
The claim that fluoride in toothpaste causes premature grey hair in men, particularly through toothpaste water dripping onto the beard, is false.
