A new "smart" toothpaste made with bioactive glasses may outperform the cavity-busting protection and soothing properties of fluoride toothpaste, according to an article published by the Queen Mary University of London.
Developed by researchers at Queen Mary University, BioMin offers all-day protection against tooth decay and soothes sensitive teeth, according to the article.
Conventional fluoride toothpaste is one of the tools used to combat caries, the most common noncommunicable, preventable disease globally in kids and adults, however, saliva washes the mineral away within 10 minutes after brushing.
The researchers invented this toothpaste that dissolves in saliva to release calcium, phosphate, and fluoride ions, or fluorapatite. Fluorapatite blocks tooth decay.
BioMin coats the teeth with a protective shield that fights decay for up to 12 hours, Professor Robert Hill of the Institute of Dentistry said in the article. Specifically, according to the researchers, the fluorapatite dissolves up to 10 times faster when the mouth reaches a pH of 5. BioMin helps neutralize it, returning it to a more neutral state.
For those with tooth sensitivity, BioMin's fluorapatite helps seal dental tubules, the microscopic hollow channels extending from the pulp chamber to the enamel, which cause sensitivity. Clinical trials show that BioMin F, the company's slow-release fluoride formula, outperformed conventional toothpastes marketed for sensitivity, according to the article.
BioMin Technologies offers three formulas in its line of toothpastes – a slow-release fluoride, a non-fluoride, and a non-fluoride kids’ formula -- to consumers directly and is licensing the product to toothpaste manufacturers globally. Additionally, the company is exploring further applications for its bio glasses, including varnishes, adhesives, fillings, cements, prophy pastes, and abrasives.
Listen to lead researcher Hill discuss the product in the video below:
