Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste: What is it and why is it so good?
Since the development of hydroxyapatite (nHAP) functional toothpaste, many friends (including some professional dentists) have tried it and found the effect to be very good——
“I used to always bleed when I brushed my teeth, but after using it for 3 to 5 days, the bleeding stopped”;
"My teeth are sensitive and I dare not brush my teeth with cold water. It improved significantly after 1 to 2 weeks. Now I can brush my teeth with cold water";
"After the customer had his teeth cleaned, he felt his teeth were sore and uncomfortable. I asked him to apply this toothpaste on the surface of his teeth and leave it on for 3 to 5 minutes before brushing. The soreness was significantly reduced, and the surface of his teeth felt much smoother when he touched it with his hands. He came to ask. Where can I buy it” (dentist);
"Staying up late, I often have ulcers in my mouth. Apply a little on the surface of the ulcer and it will disappear in three or two days";
"I can't go out without wearing lipstick. I often get cheilitis when I use it too much. It's so irritating when I use supermarket toothpaste that I have a phobia of brushing my teeth. Not only is your toothpaste not irritating at all, it also causes cheilitis very quickly." It faded away”
“The brushing was so clean that all the tartar from the teeth was removed.”
…
They were very curious and asked me what "secret weapon" this toothpaste uses and why it is so magical?
Haha, in today's world where science and technology are changing with each passing day, aerospace technology and chip manufacturing are undoubtedly high-tech, but don't ignore a small piece of toothpaste. It seems a bit far from high-tech. In fact, if you break it down and take a closer look, you will see that it is necessary. The technological content is not low at all, and these technological applications are closely related to improving the life and health of our people. A toothpaste also involves basic research, raw material (biomaterial) research and development, preparation technology/equipment research, formula research and development, clinical trials and many other professional fields. If each field were to be broken down, it would not be a large collection.
Back to the main point, my good friend has asked too many questions, so why not take some time to organize a page of text, do some popular science, and talk about a "black technology material" in the toothpaste industry - hydroxyapatite (HAP).
You will learn what exactly is hydroxyapatite toothpaste? Its scientific basis and efficacy mechanism; why is it better than fluoride for optimal oral health? Benefits (including whiter teeth!); is it safe? How should it be used? …
You will learn about hydroxyapatite (nHAP) toothpaste from the following perspectives. If you are using fluoride toothpaste but want to upgrade to a toothpaste that is more effective, safer and fluoride-free, this is your next one. Ointment.
Application scope
1. Remove stains, tartar and calculus from teeth to achieve non-destructive whitening
Tooth staining is mostly caused by pigmented bacteria, food or other chemicals. For example, tea, coffee, beverages, and tobacco can cause tea spots and smoke spots; yellow pigment is related to the presence of dental plaque. There are usually three ways to stain the tooth surface: ① The pigment directly adheres to the tooth surface; ② The pigment is contained in tartar or calculus; ③ The pigment is combined in the tooth structure, such as tetracycline teeth and fluorosis teeth where dentin affects enamel discoloration. Hydroxyapatite toothpaste can effectively remove tooth stains caused by the first two tooth surface staining methods.
Tartar, also known as dental plaque, is a biofilm that gradually deposits on the tooth surface. It is composed of food residues, shed oral epithelial cells, saliva and bacteria, which can harden into dental calculus over time. The bacteria in tartar are mainly Streptococcus and anaerobic bacteria that are usually found in the oral cavity. After tartar accumulates to a certain thickness, the bacteria inside it and close to the tooth surface begin to switch to anaerobic respiration because they are isolated from the air. The acids produced here by anaerobic respiration can erode tooth enamel and further promote the formation of cavities. Tartar accumulation at the root of the teeth can also irritate the gums and lead to periodontal diseases such as periodontitis.
Nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste contains nano- and micron-sized hydroxyapatite particles. Nano-hydroxyapatite has small particle size, large surface area, and strong binding ability to proteins (bacteria all contain proteins) and pigments; micron hydroxyapatite has excellent friction properties. During the brushing process, nano-hydroxyapatite can effectively adsorb on bacteria, dental plaque and pigments. The friction properties of micron-sized hydroxyapatite can work together with a toothbrush to more effectively remove tartar on the tooth surface and reduce tooth stains and tooth decay. Plaque and dental calculus.
Hydroxyapatite toothpaste can not only remove dental plaque through nano-hydroxyapatite, but also repair damaged enamel, restore the mineral density and surface smoothness of enamel, and improve enamel's adhesion to plaque and dental caries. resistance, while improving the gloss and whiteness of teeth, achieving a whitening effect without damaging the teeth.
2. Remove bad breath
Bacteria in the mouth are largely responsible for halitosis (bad breath). There are a large number of bacteria in the human oral cavity, among which the main ones that can produce odor are anaerobic bacteria, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, spirochete, etc. These anaerobic bacteria rely on proteins in food residues and shed tissues in the mouth to survive and reproduce, and at the same time release odors, mainly hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan. Eating smelly food, drinking alcohol and smoking can cause bad breath. Local oral pathological factors can also cause bad breath, such as caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, etc. Chronic periodontal disease in adults is also the main cause of bad breath. Other systemic pathological factors are also the root causes of bad breath, such as diabetes, respiratory tract, and digestive tract diseases.
Hydroxyapatite toothpaste mainly uses the excellent adsorption properties of hydroxyapatite, which can quickly combine with oral bacteria and chemicals that cause bad breath during the brushing process, and then be discharged together with mouthwash to clean the mouth.
Hydroxyapatite toothpaste removes the bacteria that cause bad breath, inhibits harmful bacteria in the mouth, and prevents and alleviates periodontal disease to achieve the purpose of removing bad breath. At the same time, the spices added to toothpaste can also effectively improve breath.
3. Prevent and treat periodontitis, gum bleeding, oral ulcers, loose teeth and other oral diseases
Periodontal disease and oral ulcers are caused by bacterial infection. Controlling plaque and calculus on the gum edges is an effective way to prevent periodontal disease. Controlling harmful oral bacteria and maintaining oral hygiene are important measures to prevent oral ulcers.
Hydroxyapatite itself has a certain anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effect, coupled with its ability to effectively remove dental plaque, dental calculus and inhibit harmful oral bacteria, giving hydroxyapatite toothpaste excellent prevention and treatment of periodontitis, gum bleeding, It has obvious effects on oral diseases such as oral ulcers and loose teeth. Unlike other toothpastes with added antibiotics, hydroxyapatite is the main mineral component of human bones and teeth and will not produce drug resistance or toxic side effects.
4. Prevent and treat allergies
Dentin hypersensitivity refers to symptoms such as soreness, softness, and pain caused by teeth being stimulated by external factors, such as hot, cold, sour, sweet, and mechanical effects (biting hard objects). Dentin hypersensitivity is a frequently-occurring and common disease in the oral cavity, with a relatively high incidence rate in adults. It is the main cause of clinical toothache.
Nanohydroxyapatite has the same mineral composition as enamel and dentin. It has good tissue compatibility and high affinity with enamel and dentin. It can remineralize and repair enamel and exposed dentin. Prevents the loss of calcium ions, solves the problem of demineralization of enamel and dentin, and can form a layer of hydroxyapatite covering layer on the exposed dentin surface to seal the dentin tubules and fundamentally relieve dentin hypersensitivity.
5. Prevent and treat dental caries
Hydroxyapatite toothpaste (fluoride-free) has the same anti-caries properties as fluoride toothpaste. Nanohydroxyapatite has been proven to be an effective anti-caries ingredient in field trials, reducing new dental caries in primary school children by a rate similar to that of fluoride, reaching 36%-56%. A field trial conducted on healthy adults in the United States found that nanohydroxyapatite toothpaste not only inhibited the development of dental caries, but also showed no significant difference from fluoride in its ability to remineralize early-stage caries lesions.
Unlike fluoride toothpaste that prevents dental caries by forming fluorinated apatite on the tooth surface, hydroxyapatite toothpaste uses nano-hydroxyapatite to remove dental plaque, repair damaged enamel, and restore the mineral density and surface of enamel. Smoothness improves tooth enamel's resistance to plaque adhesion and caries, while improving the gloss and whiteness of teeth.
Scientific research shows that fluoride has the effect of preventing caries, but excessive fluoride can cause problems such as dental fluorosis or skeletal fluorosis. The amount of fluoride used in foreign oral care products is strictly controlled; nanohydroxyapatite not only It can inhibit the development of dental caries and is safe to eat. Hydroxyapatite is a rich source of easily digestible calcium phosphate and is used in dietary supplements that can be swallowed by children without concern. Children, pregnant women, and those with sensitive gums can safely use hydroxyapatite toothpaste (fluoride-free).
6. Prevent and treat complications and sequelae caused by professional treatments such as orthodontics and dental cleaning.
During professional treatments such as orthodontics and teeth cleaning (such as teeth scaling and whitening), inevitable mechanical friction (such as scaling, removal of orthodontic bracket bonding, etc.) will lead to rough enamel, demineralization, or surface cracks. Damage; the movement of teeth under the external force of orthodontic brackets can cause periodontal and gingival damage. Nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste can fill the cracks in tooth enamel, make the rough parts smooth, promote the healing of damaged periodontal gingival tissue, restore the health of periodontal gingiva, effectively prevent and treat the complications and sequelae of professional treatments such as orthodontic cleaning, and significantly improve User experience.