What is Nano Hydroxyapatite?

Nano hydroxyapatite: the word looks like it just escaped from a chemistry textbook or an explanation of exotic cave formations. But, it’s actually something much closer to home. Hydroxyapatite is the mineral that makes up 60-70% of bones and 90% of tooth enamel. It is found in the saliva, where your body uses it to maintain tooth strength. Nano hydroxyapatite is the same mineral, made in a lab, that can be used by the body to replenish lost enamel minerals and encourage new bone growth and development.

Bones are made of calcium, as is tooth enamel. But, free calcium is not the version of calcium that your body can use. Nano hydroxyapatite is bioavailable, meaning it’s already in the form your body needs to use it. So, while drinking milk provides your body with calcium it can process into a usable form, nano hydroxyapatite is already usable.

Understanding Nano Hydroxyapatite

Few materials have shown as much promise for improving dental materials and minerals as nano hydroxyapatite. It’s a remarkably well-studied material, and the news from the studies is good. When nano hydroxyapatite is combined with glass ionomers, it makes the material stronger and lets it hold up better under pressure (like the pressure caused by biting and chewing). This is helping to develop better materials for fillings when fillings become unavoidable.
Nano hydroxyapatite can be applied to the surface of implant posts. Doing so appears to stimulate bone growth of the existing bone surface, leading to improved outcomes for dental surgery.

You don’t need to have major issues to see the benefits of nano hydroxyapatite. Nano hydroxyapatite particles are biomimetic, meaning they mimic natural enamel. Studies (see here also) have shown those crystals begin remineralizing enamel surfaces in as little as 10 minutes. Nano hydroxyapatite does a better job remineralizing and strengthening teeth than a toothpaste containing just fluoride.

Also, studies have shown using a tooth gel containing nano HA after tooth whitening can greatly reduce the number of sensitive days and the discomfort of those days. It also has been shown in studies to be at least as effective and often more effective in remineralizing teeth than traditional fluoride treatments. It makes sense because nature uses Nano HA to remineralize the teeth, not fluoride.

How to Use Nano Hydroxyapatite

Nano hydroxyapatite is most effective at remineralization when it’s already present in the mouth when oral pH drops. Oral pH drops after eating and drinking (other than plain water). If you are using it to heal early tooth lesions, it’s best to use it every day in your oral care products to ensure it is readily available for uptake.

CariFree tooth gels are formulated with bioavailable nano hydroxyapatite. They are a valuable tool in maintaining a healthy oral environment. Talk to your dentist about using CariFree tooth gels not just for cleansing, but also in trays as a sensitivity prevention treatment following professional tooth whitening. At the end of the day, it is all about keeping the mouth in balance. If the mouth is not in balance, figure out why so you can start to address how to restore balance using the best therapeutic and restorative strategies.

For more reading on study findings related to nano hydroxyapatite, check out this summary of major study findings on the subject.