Why Everyone Should Be Using Nano-Hydroxyapatite
In case you haven’t noticed, nano-hydroxyapatite is everywhere right now! This superstar ingredient has been around for a long time, but only recently has it been getting the recognition it deserves in the US market.
Background
It may sound like a complicated name but it’s actually pretty simple; nano-hydroxyapatite (also often referred to as n-HA) is one of the mineral forms that your body uses to build enamel. Nano-hydroxyapatite is also naturally occurring in the saliva where your body uses it to maintain tooth strength (amazingly, 97% of the outer tooth surfaces are nano-hydroxyapatite). Japan has been using this ingredient in oral care products for decades and we’re proud to say we’ve been using it in CariFree tooth gels since 2012.
Why do you need it in your toothpaste?
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 can do a better job remineralizing and strengthening teeth than a product containing just fluoride (CariFree Gel 1100 has both). If we consider that cavities can begin from weak spots in the enamel and nano-hydroxyapatite rehardens enamel, it’s a natural fit to have in oral care products to help avoid cavities.
Size, Shape, and Quality Matter
When considering oral care products that contain nano-hydroxyapatite it’s extremely important to ensure that what is being used will be effective. Studies show that the most bioavailable size of nano-hydroxyapatite particles is 20 nanometers and that rod-shaped particles are the safest. The size is particularly critical for ensuring remineralization as 20 nanometers most closely mimics what your enamel is made out of. CariFree proudly uses nanoXIM by FLUIDNOVA in our products, the only nano-hydroxyapatite globally recognized and approved for oral care by the European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety.
What about percentage?
We wish it was that simple! You’ll find many differing opinions on the amount of nano-hydroxyapatite needed, but the truth is that effectiveness is going to depend on more than percentages, such as the size and shape of the particles. Our proprietary formulations that contain fluoride, nano-hydroxyapatite, and an elevated pH are a true powerhouse when it comes to remineralization and cavity prevention.
Another Critical Factor? Oral pH
It’s all over our website: CariFree products use an elevated pH to help prevent cavities. Your saliva is naturally saturated with hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite, but an acidic pH is going to make it hard for these to do anything. Hydroxyapatite begins to dissolve at a pH of 5.5 and fluorapatite at 4.5 – using products that have an elevated pH is critical for these naturally occurring minerals as well as the effectiveness of the ingredients in the oral care products you use.
Remineralizing oral care products can be a hugely effective weapon in the battle against cavities. Products containing nano hydroxyapatite can rebuild the surface of tooth enamel, reducing long term cavity development. Using a product that combines fluoride with nano hydroxyapatite can further improve remineralization and tooth health.
The best part? CariFree Gel was shown to buffer the pH of dental plaque and actually prevent pH drops that are associated with enamel damage. The optimal and proprietary ratio of fluoride and nano-hydroxyapatite in our Gel was also shown to achieve repair and protection of enamel samples.
67% remin rate
remin can’t take place without pH shift
The Science
Saliva is naturally saturated with hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite, HA dissolves at pH of 5.5, fluorapatite at 4.5- want both of these because it makes your enamel more resistant (Edwina Kidd)
CariFree CEO Dr. V Kim Kutsch recently co-authored an excellent article with Compendium: Reconsidering Remineralization Strategies to Include Nanoparticle Hydroxyapatite. The findings of the study demonstrate that pH neutralization and nano hydroxyapatite are both strategies to be considered for remineralization.
https://cced.cdeworld.com/courses/21183-reconsidering-remineralization-strategies-to-include-nanoparticle-hydroxyapatite
Nano hydroxyapatite containing products have been shown to harden teeth better than products that contain fluoride alone.
A controlled study conducted on cow’s teeth showed nano hydroxyapatite containing products were the most successful for remineralizing enamel. A controlled study on healthy human teeth found that tooth hardness was much greater for teeth that were treated with products containing nano hydroxyapatite than fluoride alone products or not being treated with mineral products at all.
It also has been shown in studies to be at least as effective and often more effective in remineralizing teeth than traditional fluoride treatments.
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.
a 2014 review of existing research on nanohydroxyapatite found it effective against sensitivity, particularly for the sensitivity that often accompanies tooth whitening.
Copied/must change wording
how does hydroxyapatite toothpaste compare to fluoride toothpaste?
There are several scientific studies concluding that hydroxyapatite toothpaste is a promising (and a safer, natural) alternative to fluoride toothpaste. According to several studies (study 1, study 2, study 3, study 4), hydroxyapatite is as effective (if not more effective) as fluoride in remineralizing your teeth to prevent/treat dental caries.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7376056/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/221690050_Remineralization_of_early_caries_by_a_nano-hydroxyapatite_dentifrice
https://www.scientific.net/KEM.309-311.537
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12951-019-0454-6
As mentioned throughout this FAQ, hydroxyapatite already exists naturally in your body and is non-toxic and biocompatible, unlike fluoride. As a result, it’s actually safe to swallow an entire tube of hydroxyapatite toothpaste (we don’t recommend that), whereas certain doses of fluoride pose danger, and fluoride toothpastes must include a poison control warning.
does the % of hydroxyapatite in hydroxyapatite toothpaste matter?
The short answer is: it’s not that simple.
You’ll find that some functional dentists recommend looking for hydroxyapatite toothpaste with “at least X% of hydroxyapatite” in the formula.
But the truth is, toothpaste with 10% hydroxyapatite (no we don’t use 10%) can be more effective than toothpaste with 50% hydroxyapatite. The efficacy of the toothpaste depends on so much more than the % of the hero ingredient, such as the type and grade of material being used.
what % of Davids Sensitive+Whitening Nano-Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste is actually nano-hydroxyapatite?
We do not disclose % as this is proprietary information to our formulation, and does not provide any meaningful info on how the toothpaste actually performs. The 3rd party lab testing we did shows that we outperformed all the leading competitive brands of hydroxyapatite toothpaste submitted and most effectively repaired the enamel to help reduce sensitivity. Please visit our website to see photos as part of our lab results that show the effectiveness of our formulation.
how do I know which one is the best hydroxyapatite toothpaste?
We may be biased, but our third-party lab testing results are not.
We submitted samples of the top competing sensitive toothpastes to one of the largest and most trusted third-party laboratories that specialize in oral care product testing to see how well Davids Sensitive+Whitening Nano-Hydroxyapatite toothpaste would perform against the competition.
All numerical and photo evidence from the lab results showed that Davids significantly outperformed the competing products by most effectively repairing the tubules and blocking the passageways to the nerves to relieve tooth sensitivity. In other words, science reveals that Davids is the best toothpaste with hydroxyapatite!