About Us

Mar 15, 2023

Yes, you can use nano hydroxyapatite and fluoride together.

Both nano hydroxyapatite and fluoride toothpaste are used by dental professionals to remineralize initial carious lesions and strengthen tooth enamel. However, these substances work via separate mechanisms and have different impacts on your overall health.

This article will explain everything you need to know about hydroxyapatite toothpaste, fluoride toothpaste, and whether you can use them together.

FLUORIDE VS. HYDROXYAPATITE

Dental professionals use fluoride and hydroxyapatite to control dental caries and for other regenerative dentistry practices.

In fact, both fluoride and hydroxyapatite toothpaste are effective at remineralizing initial caries lesions and strengthening tooth enamel.

That being said, both substances work differently and have different implications for your oral health.

FLUORIDE TOOTHPASTE

Fluoride toothpaste is considered the gold standard in caries remineralization and reducing tooth sensitivity.

Interestingly, Fluoride is not a natural substance that your body already makes, unlike nano hydroxyapatite.

When fluoride remineralization occurs, your toothpaste deposits fluoride minerals back into your tooth enamel. This can be effective for:

Strengthening your teeth

Fighting sensitive teeth

Reducing caries incidence

However, certain groups of people should exercise caution with fluoride toothpaste. For example, pregnant women require different fluoride concentrations as compared to other demographics.

This is because fluoride can be harmful to a growing fetus and has been shown to have neurotoxic effects. Multiple studies show there is a negative impact on the intelligence tests in children when pregnant mothers consumed fluoride.

TYPES OF FLUORIDE TOOTHPASTE

Fluoride toothpastes typically contain active ingredients like sodium fluoride and stannous fluoride. These ingredients deposit fluoride ions into your teeth and are used as treatment for an initial enamel lesion.

OTHER FLUORIDE TREATMENTS

Other treatments that incorporate fluoride include:

Fluoride varnish

Prescription grade mouthrinses and toothpastes

Fluoride gels

Fluoride foams

In addition, many dental products used in dental offices contain fluoride such as cements for dental crowns and veneers.

HYDROXYAPATITE TOOTHPASTE

Nano hydroxyapatite is a unique tool used in regenerative dentistry and caries prevention.

Synthetic hydroxyapatite toothpastes work by depositing calcium and phosphate ions back into your tooth surface and promoting dentine remineralization.

Similar to fluoride toothpaste, hydroxyapatite toothpaste is used by dental professionals to treat cavities and fight sensitive teeth. Unlike fluoride toothpaste, nano hydroxyapatite is a natural substance already found in your teeth and bones.

Therefore, nano hydroxyapatite does not exhibit negative effects like fluoride toxicity and is safe to be used by pregnant women and children.

HYDROXYAPATITE AND FLUORIDE

Both hydroxyapatite and fluoride toothpaste can:

Inhibit demineralization and caries development

Remineralize early caries

Fight sensitive teeth

Prevent tooth decay

However, the fluoride concentration is many major toothpaste brands is not suitable for pregnant women, unlike hydroxyapatite.

IS HYDROXYAPATITE BETTER THAN FLUORIDE?

"Better" is a relative term. Both toothpastes are effective for strengthening enamel and dentine remineralization.

Hydroxyapatite toothpaste is likely the best option for most people depending on their dental care needs as it has fewer systemic effects than fluoride toothpaste.

On the other hand, higher fluoride concentrations may be prescribed to patients by dental professionals for particularly bad dental caries and multiple initial caries lesions. Fluoride is typically recommended for dental caries prevention.

COMPARATIVE EFFICACY

Both fluoride and nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste are effective at supporting good oral health through:

Reducing teeth sensitivity

Promoting enamel remineralization

Dental caries prevention

Supporting the oral microbiome

Further, studies show both compounds have similar comparative efficacy for lesion depth reduction and inhibiting enamel caries progression. 

REDUCING TEETH SENSITIVITY

Both fluoride toothpaste and nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste are effective at reducing dentin hypersensitivity.

ENAMEL REMINERALIZATION

Remineralization assessment shows that hydroxyapatite has about the same fluoride effectiveness with minimal, if any, statistically significant difference. This makes it a great alternative to anyone concerned about toxicity.

PREVENTING DENTAL CARIES

Both fluoride and nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste are effective at surface zone remineralization which can result in caries reduction.

Hydroxyapatite toothpaste may be safer for preventing dental caries in children to avoid inducing dental fluorosis via fluoride toothpaste.

IMPACT ON ORAL MICROBIOME

Both hydroxyapatite and fluoride toothpaste work by impacting bacteria in your mouth.

While fluoride toothpaste can reduce initial bacterial colonisation, hydroxyapatite inhibits bacteria's ability to bind to your teeth and form dental plaque.

Both mechanisms support good oral health.

SYSTEM TOXICITY

Non fluoride remineralization systems based in nano hydroxyapatite do not exhibit the same toxicity shown with fluoride toothpaste.

SAFETY FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

Unfortunately, studies show that fluoride exposure during pregnancy is associated with lower IQ in children. Therefore, it is best practice for pregnant women to switch to nano hydroxyapatite toothpastes over fluoride toothpastes.

NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE

Fluoride is under suspicion for its role in neurological disease. For example, in this randomized controlled clinical trial, fluoride toothpaste was associated with adverse effects of children's' neurological development.

HOW DOES HYDROXYAPATITE TOOTHPASTE WORK?

Because it is made from the same materials your teeth are made of, nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste prevents cavities by filling in your enamel with calcium and phosphate to restore and strengthen your teeth.

A standard diet with acid and sugar will slowly eat away at your enamel. Without intervention, your enamel erodes and cavities form.

Dental professionals use nano hydroxyapatite paste to preventing this erosion and to improve your oral health overall.

BENEFITS OF HYDROXYAPATITE TOOTHPASTE

REMINERALIZATION AND TOOTH DECAY

Nano hydroxyapatite functions to strength your enamel surface and increase the mineral density of your teeth. This process makes your teeth stronger and glossier while also decreasing your chances of tooth decay, leading to a beautiful smile!

PREVENT CAVITIES

By depositing nanoscopic calcium phosphate ions, nano hydroxyapatite functions to strength your enamel surface and increase the mineral density of your teeth.

This process can stimulate bone growth leading to reduced chances of developing carious enamel.

REDUCED SENSITIVITY

Even beyond caries prevention, synthetic hydroxyapatite is an effective desensitizing agent. Studies show that it is a safe material for reducing dentin hypersensitivity.

By depositing minerals into the protective layer of your teeth, hydroxyapatite toothpaste can make a significant difference in your ability to tolerate temperature, acidity, and sugar.

HEALTHY ORAL MICROBIOME

A healthy mouth has a unique environment of bacteria in it. Synthetic hydroxyapatite is essential to reduce the growth of bad bacteria while sparing the good bacteria that protect your teeth.

Additionally, there are many common agents in oral care that can disrupt your microbiome, such as:

Hydrogen peroxide

Chlorhexidine

Sodium lauryl sulfate

These ingredients contribute to issues like dry mouth and sensitive teeth. Nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste protects your mouth from these negative effects. 

FIGHTS GUM DISEASE

Nano hydroxyapatite has unique antibacterial properties unlike fluoride toothpastes. By selectively killing off certain strains of bacteria that disrupt your mouth, synthetic hydroxyapatite protects your teeth against gum disease such as gingivitis.

REDUCED CHANCE OF DENTAL FLUOROSIS

Excessive use of fluoride products in oral care causes the discoloration of your teeth through a condition called dental fluorosis.

By switching to a more natural formula, such as nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste, you can reduce your chances of messing on your smile.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is hydroxyapatite better than fluoride?

Hydroxyapatite is as effective as fluoride toothpaste. It is better for pregnant women as it does not have cause fluoride toxicity in fetuses.

How does fluoride affect hydroxyapatite?

When consumed, fluoride modifies the hydroxyapatite chain found in enamel and turns it into fluorapatite. Fluorapatite contains a fluoride ion, and makes the tooth more resistant to demineralization, creating a protective mechanism against forming initial caries lesions and helps prevent dental caries.

Is nano-hydroxyapatite as effective as fluoride?

Yes, nano hydroxyapatite is as effective as fluoride at remineralizing carious lesions.

Is hydroxyapatite more effective than fluoride?

Hydroxyapatite is as effective as fluoride at remineralizing enamel subsurface lesions without causing any system toxicity.

Can nano hydroxyapatite reverse cavities?

Nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste can reverse initial caries lesions and protect against future dental caries. This is accomplished by nourishing the tooth enamel with the minerals needed to stay healthy and mineralized.

Regular use of nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste will provide the tooth with proper calcium and phosphate and aid in preventing dental caries in an effective way similar or greater than fluoride toothpastes.

Does hydroxyapatite toothpaste work?

Yes, nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste works. It is effective at remineralizing initial caries lesions and reducing dentin hypersensitivity.