This Non-Toxic Toothpaste Trend Is Replacing Fluoride
As informed women who are more health-conscious than ever before, it’s no wonder so many of us are suspicious of the chemicals in our daily beauty products. Toothpaste is no exception.
This is why we’re turning to hydroxyapatite as an alternative to fluoride for maintaining our dental health, without ingesting potentially harmful toxins. Too many people are blissfully unaware that fluoride is a chemical waste byproduct that results from the production of synthetic fertilizer. For years, a growing number of curious people have started to question if fluoride is really the safest and most effective ingredient for guarding our teeth against cavities.
Fluoride is a chemical waste byproduct that results from the production of synthetic fertilizer.
You’ve likely noticed the warning on your fluoride toothpaste that advises you to contact a poison control center if you accidentally swallow too much. Does anyone actually use the pea-size amount they recommend? Also, what about the toothpaste that’s incidentally absorbed through my mouth? Fluoride is added to most of our tap water as well. So how much fluoride am I really ingesting here? If you’re thinking there has to be a safer solution for keeping your teeth clean, don’t worry, there is. It’s called hydroxyapatite.
Our Teeth Are Made of Hydroxyapatite
Hydroxyapatite (also called HAp) is the main component of tooth enamel. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body. Unlike fluoride, hydroxyapatite is a naturally occurring mineral that belongs in your mouth. This makes HAp-based toothpaste naturally non-toxic. Even lab-made HAp is identical to the stuff inside your teeth. In high doses, fluoride is a well-documented neurotoxin, but hydroxyapatite is not known to cause inflammation or any other bodily harm.
Hydroxyapatite is the main component of tooth enamel.
Demineralization is the enemy of our teeth. It ramps up when we eat acidic or sugary sweet foods that multiply harmful bacteria. This bacterial overload feeds on and strips away our precious tooth enamel. It’s the main cause of tooth decay which eventually leads to sensitivity and unsightly cavities.
Hydroxyapatite is highly effective at replacing the lost minerals in a process called remineralization. Simply put, hydroxyapatite toothpaste works by penetrating deeply into the microscopic cracks and crevices of a tooth where it can permanently bind to and reinforce the existing enamel. Hydroxyapatite toothpaste takes our body’s natural defense against tooth decay and amplifies its efficacy.
The Benefits of Brushing with Hydroxyapatite
If you’re like me, you always choose the toothpaste that promises whiter looking teeth. Most people are surprised to learn that fluoride does the exact opposite. Too much fluoride exposure will make your teeth brown, hence the need for added bleaching agents in many toothpastes. To that, I emphatically say no, thank you!
Luckily, hydroxyapatite is a naturally white substance, and it’s very good at imparting that flawless whiteness directly to your pearly whites. Testing of HAp toothpaste confirms that the more hydroxyapatite within a toothpaste, the whiter it will make your teeth. With HAp, you don't have to sacrifice your enamel to abrasive polishing or bleaching toothpaste that results in sensitivity and pain.
Hydroxyapatite naturally whitens your teeth, unlike most toothpastes which rely on bleaching agents.
Dentist and blogger Dr. Mark Burhenne is an advocate for hydroxyapatite toothpaste. He concludes that HAp is the solution to the “acid attacks” that bacteria commit against our teeth. Unlike fluoride, which indiscriminately kills all the good and bad bacteria in your mouth, HAp repels bacteria away from your teeth without damaging your mouth’s microbiome.
Advocates of fluoride will claim that it provides the best defense against cavities. While this may have been the consensus 100 years ago, a study from 2019 confirms that hydroxyapatite is equally effective at preventing tooth decay and cavities. And unlike fluoride, the chances of poisoning from hydroxyapatite are virtually nonexistent. Children, pregnant women, and anyone who suffers from an autoimmune disorder can potentially benefit from the non-toxic nature of HAp compared to fluoride. There was a time when the benefits of fluoride seemed to outweigh the costs. Now, hydroxyapatite promises even more benefits and eliminates so many of fluoride’s detrimental health costs.
Our Favorite Hydroxyapatite Toothpastes
While the first hydroxyapatite toothpaste brand wasn’t launched in the U.S. until 2016, it’s been used around the world for decades. An online search will bring up dozens of hydroxyapatite toothpastes. Here are a few of our favorites:
Boka Ela Mint
Boka is the leader of the hydroxyapatite toothpaste movement in the U.S. Along with hydroxyapatite, their toothpaste boasts green tea, aloe vera, and a refreshing minty flavor from peppermint, spearmint, and wintergreen oils. Boka is formulated without SLS, parabens, endocrine disruptors, or bleaching agents.
Wellnesse by Wellness Mama
Designed by Katie Wells, the natural health and beauty expert behind the incredible Wellness Mama blog, Wellnesse is the gold standard for natural and non-toxic ingredients. Wellnesse is glycerin-free which potentially makes it better at remineralizing your teeth. Bonus points for making their tube from eco-friendly sugarcane bioplastic.
RiseWell
RiseWell offers a unique array of hydroxyapatite-based dental products — not just toothpaste. Their products are paraben-free, cruelty-free, vegan, and their toothpaste boasts that it’s safe enough to eat! RiseWell also offers a natural kids toothpaste in a delicious cake batter flavor. Probably best to just stick to brushing your teeth with it though…
Bite Toothpaste Bits
Bite packages their toothpaste into neat little tablets that are packaged in a cool glass jar. Bite foams up well, leaving your teeth feeling squeaky clean. There are close to 10,000 reviews on their site with a near perfect 4.9 star rating, and 99% of their customers would recommend Bite to a friend.
Closing Thoughts
If you’re committed to keeping your teeth clean without the aid of toxic fluoride, hydroxyapatite makes it possible. HAp mimics the natural structure and function of your existing tooth enamel. We believe hydroxyapatite toothpaste is definitely something to smile about.