Hydroxyapatite is nontoxic and biocompatible (meaning it can be used safely in the body) and is osteoconductive, meaning it helps bones and teeth grow. It is also a safer alternative to fluoride because it doesn’t cause tooth decay or lead to fluorosis in children.

It can be found in several toothpastes and powders, but you can also use it to make your remineralizing toothpaste. Here’s how to do it:

Remineralizes

Hydroxyapatite is one of the main mineral parts of teeth and bones. It makes up over 90% of the enamel, a complex, tooth-colored outer layer that protects your inner teeth and nerves from bacteria that can lead to severe infections, tooth decay, and gum disease. Enamel remineralization is the process of increasing the amount of minerals in the enamel to strengthen it and make it more resistant to plaque. Tooth powders with hydroxyapatite are an excellent way to encourage remineralization because they can be applied directly to the teeth.

Studies have shown that remineralizing powders can help prevent and even reverse tooth decay. They can do this by chemically remineralizing the teeth and physically closing dentine tubular openings that cause sensitivity, which also helps with tooth repair. Studies are ongoing, and more research is needed, but remineralizing powders are as effective as fluoride kinds of toothpaste.

A newer type of remineralizing powder uses nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP). It is derived from phosphate rock and is bioavailable, meaning the body can absorb it. It is used in dental trays and toothpaste to protect teeth from decay and prevent sensitivity. Studies have found that nHAP is safe when used according to manufacturer directions, and it may even be more effective than fluoride.

The best remineralizing tooth powders combine nHAP with other ingredients, such as magnesium bicarbonate and healing essential oils. These are important because they provide a healthy mouth environment for remineralization. This includes reducing acid levels in the mouth, which helps prevent dental decay and reduce sensitivity.

Hydroxyapatite powders can be used instead of regular toothpaste to protect teeth from plaque and sensitivity and to remineralize them after professional whitening. They can also be used as a remineralizing rinse in addition to a regular toothbrush and floss routine.

Using a remineralizing tooth powder can also help reduce sensitivity, even in areas with bleaching damage. This is because it can close the tubular openings in the dentine and reduce sensitivity to hot, cold, or pressure. When remineralizing tooth powder, starting with just a tiny amount of powder is recommended and gradually increasing the amount as you get used to the texture and taste. Brushing as generally as possible is recommended, and not spitting immediately afterward. This allows the remineralizing particles to remain on the teeth for as long as possible.

Whitens

Hydroxyapatite is a natural mineral found in bone tissue and teeth. Dentists have used it as a bone graft material since the 1960s. It’s also been used as an oral care ingredient. However, the hydroxyapatite in our products is synthesized to have a nano-scale crystalline structure. This allows it to penetrate the enamel surface better and remineralize the tooth. It’s also been shown to be more effective at reducing dental hypersensitivity than sodium fluoride.

When applied to the enamel of your teeth, hydroxyapatite powder helps whiten them by removing plaque and bacteria and filling in any demineralized areas or weak spots. It also creates an alkaline environment, which neutralizes acids in the mouth and those produced by bacteria. This can help prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and infections.

As a whitening agent, hydroxyapatite is different than other whitening ingredients. It doesn’t bleach the teeth or remove the dentin like peroxide. Instead, it remineralizes the teeth, naturally brightening them without any hard or soft tissue oxidation.

A systematic review of the evidence for hydroxyapatite in whitening products has found moderately high levels of both in vitro and preliminary clinical (in vivo) evidence supporting its effectiveness in whitening the teeth. The studies involved a wide range of populations, ages, and conditions, but all showed teeth whitening in the short term. The evidence is based on multiple methods, including visual assessment using shade guides and measurement of the surface microhardness with a densitometer.

The research also suggests that long-term use of hydroxyapatite-based whitening products is associated with low levels of tooth discoloration. This may be due to the remineralization of the tooth and the formation of a transparent layer of hydroxyapatite resistant to stains.

When used as part of toothpaste, hydroxyapatite has been shown to improve the whiteness of teeth and reduce sensitivity significantly. It’s also been proven to be a safe and effective ingredient in over-the-counter whitening mouthwashes. In the future, high-quality RCTs should be conducted to verify these findings. These trials should focus on assessing the whitening efficacy of hydroxyapatite toothpaste, including those with other whitening agents, with standardized objective techniques (such as shade guides) and control groups.

Strengthens

Hydroxyapatite powder contains calcium, phosphorous, and hydroxyl atoms—the same materials that your bones and teeth are made from. It is bioactive, which reacts with and helps your bone and tooth cells grow. Hydroxyapatite is nontoxic and non-irritating, making it a safe alternative to fluoride in oral care products.

When used in toothpaste, the hydroxyapatite powder helps to remineralize teeth and protect them from plaque. It also strengthens enamel and can even help to restore weakened or cracked teeth. Unlike fluoride, it doesn’t contain any harmful additives. Instead, it supports the body’s ability to heal and prevent cavities and gum disease.

The hydroxyapatite absorbs into the enamel as a powder, providing a natural, tooth-whitening effect. This is because it’s able to penetrate deep into the tooth. It’s also much more gentle than other whitening ingredients, such as baking soda or hydrogen peroxide. This makes it an excellent choice for sensitive teeth and those who don’t want to deal with sensitivity or abrasions.

Studies have found that hydroxyapatite powder can be more effective than fluoride in remineralizing tooth enamel and reducing dentine hypersensitivity. In one study, a dentifrice containing zinc-carbonate hydroxyapatite was superior to potassium nitrate and calcium carbonate at desensitizing dentine. [57]

Another benefit of using hydroxyapatite toothpaste is that it can also strengthen the gums and help repair damage from gingivitis. Hydroxyapatite’s remineralizing properties also make it an excellent tooth whitener. In a small animal study, a toothpaste fortified with hydroxyapatite microclusters was shown to keep bacteria from adhering to the surface of the teeth and gums.

Finally, hydroxyapatite powder is a good substitute for sodium fluoride in preventing thrush. This is because it can help to reduce plaque, gum inflammation, and the risk of infections in the mouth. The best way to use hydroxyapatite toothpaste or powder is to brush gently, paying particular attention to the areas between your teeth and along the gum line where plaque often builds up. Also, spit out the excess powder, and don’t rinse.

Fights Bacteria

Hydroxyapatite is naturally alkaline, meaning it’s nontoxic to the teeth and mouth and doesn’t irritate the skin or cause gums to burn. It also neutralizes acids caused by plaque and bacteria to prevent enamel damage. Hydroxyapatite is also osteoconductive, which means it can help bones and teeth grow. It’s also biocompatible, which means your body sees it as a familiar structure that belongs there and doesn’t trigger toxicity or inflammation. This is a significant difference from fluoride, which can lead to dental fluorosis.

Hydroxyapatite primarily prevents tooth decay by remineralizing teeth and increasing the mineral content of existing enamel. This strengthens teeth and makes them more resistant to bacteria, the leading cause of cavities and gum disease. Hydroxyapatite also helps fill the tiny holes (called fissures) that develop in the enamel during demineralization and leave spaces where plaque can hide. It also makes the teeth more sensitive to pressure and temperature, which can help protect them against gingivitis.

Hydroxyapatite can also make the teeth look whiter by removing yellowish stains from the surface of the teeth. It does this without any whitening ingredients, which makes it a good option for people who want to avoid bleaching their teeth.

Another advantage of hydroxyapatite is that it doesn’t cause fluorosis, which can happen when the body gets too much fluoride, especially in children who may swallow toothpaste. This isn’t a problem with hydroxyapatite powder because it is non-toxic and biomimetic, which means it mimics the body’s natural materials. This makes it wildly unlikely to cause any adverse reaction.

Hydroxyapatite powder is a safe and effective alternative to traditional toothpaste, with research to back up its effectiveness. It can be used to remineralize teeth, fight cavities, strengthen the jaw, and whiten and brighten the teeth. It’s also an excellent antimicrobial, which can help prevent infections and disease. The best hydroxyapatite toothpaste will have other essential oils and herbs to freshen your breath, and they’ll be free from gluten, SLS, and other additives that irritate the mouth.