The researchers from the Medical University of Bialystok (Malgorzata Pawinska, Inga Kaminska, Joanna Lapinska-Antonczuk and Ewa Stokowska) along with co-authors from other institutions published the article „Caries-preventing effect of a hydroxyapatite-toothpaste in adults: a 18-month double-blinded randomized clinical trial” in Frontiers in Public Health.
Maintaining systematic oral hygiene is the most effective way to prevent dental caries. Biomimetic hydroxyapatite (HAP) - a calcium phosphate mineral, which in terms of structure and composition resembles and imitates natural enamel crystals, turned out to be a new active agent, effective in the fight against caries. Biomimetic hydroxyapatite binds with natural hydroxyapatite in the enamel. In this way, it creates a protective layer on the surface of the enamel and eliminates the harmful effects of acids of bacterial and food origin. In addition, it prevents the adhesion of dental plaque bacteria from adhering to the tooth surface. In the latest study published by teams of scientists from two Polish research centers - Medical Universities in Poznań and Bialystok under the leadership of prof. dr hab. Elżbieta Paszyńska (Poznan University of Medical Sciences) and dr hab. Małgorzata Pawińska (Medical University of Białystok) - the anti-caries effect of a toothpaste containing 10% hydroxyapatite and fluoride toothpaste (1450 ppm F-) was compared in 189 adults aged 18-45. After 18 months of toothpaste usage, it was shown that the percentage of people without new carious cavities was nearly 90% in both groups. The results of the clinical trials confirmed that toothpaste with hydroxyapatite is as effective in preventing caries and protecting against the progression of new lesions in adults as fluoride toothpaste. To sum up, the biomimetic active ingredient - hydroxyapatite is ideally suited for daily oral care of patients of all ages because it shows various mechanisms of preventive action and combines both effectiveness and safety. Daily use of toothpaste with remineralizing hydroxyapatite may help to reduce invasive methods of caries treatment.
The research team also included scientists from Dr. Kurt Wolff GmbH & Co., Society for Biometrics and Psychometrics in Bielefeld (Germany), University of Texas Health San Antonio (USA), and University of Toronto (Canada).
This research was funded by DR. KURT WOLFF GMBH & CO. KG; Johanneswerkstraße 34-36, 33611 Bielefeld, Germany.
The research paper has been published in Frontiers in Public Health and is available in: Caries-preventing effect of a hydroxyapatite-toothpaste in adults: a 18-month double-blinded randomized clinical trial