Fluoride

Introduction

Written by Malini Ghoshal, RPh, MS
Medically reviewed by Fallon Mumford, PharmD
Updated on January 25, 2024

Sodium fluoride (SOW dee um FLOR ide) chewable tablet is a generic medication that’s prescribed to prevent dental cavities in children. Sodium fluoride comes in several brand-name versions including Epiflur, Ludent, Luride, and others. The cost of sodium fluoride with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Note: Sodium fluoride chewable tablets have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Your doctor or dentist may still prescribe sodium fluoride chewable tablets if they feel it’s right for your child. If you have questions about sodium fluoride and its uses, talk with your child’s doctor, dentist, or your pharmacist.

Sodium fluoride is also available in over-the-counter products such as toothpaste and mouth rinse. Talk with your doctor or dentist if you have questions about the different types of sodium fluoride that are available.

Read on to learn about sodium fluoride and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription.

Cost of sodium fluoride

Like other medications, the cost of sodium fluoride can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use 

To find out how much sodium fluoride costs, ask your dentist, doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the “Coupons for sodium fluoride” section.

Coupons for sodium fluoride

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of sodium fluoride. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Insurance and other considerations for sodium fluoride

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization. If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of sodium fluoride. In this case, your doctor or dentist will communicate with your insurance company regarding coverage for sodium fluoride chewable tablet. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and your child begins taking it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• A 3-month supply. If your child is taking sodium fluoride long term, their dentist or doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.
• Savings accounts. If you’re eligible for a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), you can likely use funds from these accounts to pay for your prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications. HSA and FSA plans help people save money by using pretax dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses, such as prescription and OTC drugs. To learn more about whether you’re eligible for these savings accounts and how to use them, talk with your insurance provider or employer.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your dentist, doctor, or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor, dentist, or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand-names

Sodium fluoride is a generic medication. The brand-name versions of this drug include Epiflur, Ludent, Luride, and others.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. An active ingredient is what makes medication work. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re believed to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.

If your dentist or doctor has prescribed sodium fluoride chewable tablets, but you’re interested in taking a brand-name version instead, let them know. They may have a reason to prescribe one medication over the other. Also, check which forms of the drug your insurance plan covers, as it may not cover all forms.

To learn how the cost of sodium fluoride chewable tablet compares with its brand-name versions, talk with your dentist, doctor, or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about sodium fluoride and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about sodium fluoride.  

How does the cost of sodium fluoride compare with the cost of a multivitamin?

The cost of sodium fluoride chewable tablet compared to the cost of a multivitamin depends on several factors. A multivitamin is something that would be purchased OTC and would not be covered by insurance. There are some versions of sodium fluoride that can also be purchased OTC, like toothpastes and mouth rinses, but sodium fluoride chewable tablet requires a prescription. So the cost may depend on whether your insurance provider (if you have one) covers it. Typically, the cost will be less with insurance coverage than without it.

Other factors which may affect your cost include:

• the pharmacy you use
• the days’ supply of sodium fluoride chewable tablets (30-day vs 90-day)
• if there are any coupons to save on the cost

If you have questions about how the cost of sodium fluoride chewable tablets compares with the cost of a multivitamin, talk with your pharmacist.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. An active ingredient is what makes medication work.

This competition may help keep the costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What to ask about sodium fluoride

This article provides cost information related to sodium fluoride chewable tablets. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for sodium fluoride.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your dentist, doctor, or pharmacist. You can also contact your insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• How does the cost of sodium fluoride chewable tablet compare with brand-name versions?
• Does the cost of sodium fluoride depend on my dosage?
• What are my options if I can’t afford my medication?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Ludent (sodium fluoride) chewable tablet. (2018). nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=029caea5-2b12-4051-b758-22cd7fc1d207&type=display
• Sodium fluoride chewable tablet. (2023). nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/264d02da-d8fb-4a71-95e6-bab74fd82a15/spl-doc

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.