What is hydroxyapatite and why is it now considered the gold standard in dentistry?

Our teeth have an outer protective covering called enamel that is made up of calcium and phosphate. Cavity-causing bacteria can break down food particles and create an acidic environment in your mouth. This acidic environment is harsh and can strip away these beneficial minerals from the surfaces of your teeth. This process is called demineralization.

Hydroxyapatite is a naturally occurring mineral that makes up 97% of our tooth enamel. Adding this to toothpaste and oral care products has been scientifically-proven to strengthen and protect your teeth. Hydroxyapatite is absorbed by the teeth and fills up the small holes and depressions on enamel surface caused by demineralisation.

Aeka’s Premium Natural Toothpaste uses a nano-sized version of hydroxyapatite. Because of its small size, nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAP) can even get into small cracks which leads to better benefits. We combine this with other high-bio availability marine mineral salts (Aquamin) which also help strengthen the enamel.

Most commercial toothpastes use fluoride as ingredient to remineralise enamel as it cheaply available and has been used in toothpastes since the 1950’s. Over exposure to fluoride is also linked to low thyroid function, learning and behavioural difficulties and bone fragility. N-HAP on the other hand is 100% biocompatible and non-toxic.

This also makes our toothpaste child-friendly since young children don’t have full control over swallowing and can ingest large amounts of toothpaste. Because Hydroxyapatite is a naturally occurring mineral in our teeth and bones, it’s completely harmless if accidentally ingested. And since the rest of our ingredients are also all safe, you have nothing to worry about when using our natural fluoride-free toothpaste.

n-HAP also makes teeth naturally whiter over time without the help of abrasives or whitening agents.

“The nano-hydroxyapatite is a revolutionary material with a wide use in dentistry. With regard to restorative and preventive fields, nano-hydroxyapatite has remarkable remineralizing effects on initial lesions of enamel, certainly higher than traditional fluorides used until now for this purpose. Nano-hydroxyapatite is, in fact, a better source of free Ca, and this is a key element as regards the remineralization, the protection against caries and dental erosion.”

ERLIND PEPLA, MD, LAIT KOSTANTINOS BESHARAT, MD, GASPARE PALAIA, DDS, GIANLUCA TENORE, DDS, AND GUIDO MIGLIAU, DDS

References

1. Pepla, Erlind et al. “Nano-hydroxyapatite and its applications in preventive, restorative and reg        enerative dentistry: a review of literature.” Annali di stomatologia vol. 5,3 108-14. 20 Nov. 2014
2. Tschoppe P, Zandim DL, Martus P, Kielbassa AM. Enamel and dentin remineralization by nano-hydroxyapatite toothpastes. J Dent. 2011 Jun;39(6):430–7. Epub 2011 April