Lidl's DentaLux 2 in 1, a mouthwash and toothpaste combination, doesn't specify the levels of fluoride it contains. There's also no swallowing warnings, no brushing advice and, despite therapeutic claims, there is no PL number is stated on the packaging.

Lidl's Unodent Plus toothpaste contains 1450 ppm of fluoride, which is an extremely poisonous level 145 mg in a 100 ml tube enough to kill a child if ingested in quantity. Nevertheless, there are no warnings about the use of this product by children.

Dentalux in family size (125 ml) makes the claim that "the latest research shows that the active ingredients in Dentalux help to prevent tooth decay and gum disease". The product contains "Olafluor", a proprietary combination of "bis(hydroxyethyl) aminopropyl-N-hydroxyethyl octadecyclamin dihdydrofluoride". Whatever this substance is and I have never heard of it before it is included in an unspecified quantity. There are no warnings whatsoever about accidental swallowing by children under seven and no advisory about using a pea sized amount of paste to minimise swallowing. No PL number is displayed.

Kwik Save (owned by Somerfield)

Kwik Save offered no choice of any fluoride free toothpastes. Somerfield's Freshmint fluoride toothpaste contains 0.22 per cent sodium fluoride (995 ppm or 100 mg in a 100 ml tube) enough to seriously injure a child.

Fluoride toothpastes in the US are required to show a poison label. The American consumer is warned about swallowing the product and a toll free Poisons Bureau telephone number is given in case the toothpaste is accidentally swallowed.

In the UK, the labelling of fluoride toothpaste and other fluoridated products is nothing short of haphazard. Fluorides in dental over the counter products carry a potent risk of acute and chronic fluoride poisoning. There is no question that easy availability of these products and the poor labelling pose a serious threat to health, particularly in children.

!ATony Lees