Dr. George is a trusted voice in holistic dentistry. For decades he has been advocating for a shift away from conventional fluoride treatments in favor of a naturally occurring mineral found in teeth and bones—hydroxyapatite. According to recent studies, this compound could be just as effective as fluoride in shielding our teeth from cavities, making it a promising alternative ingredient for toothpaste.
While fluoride has long been recognized for its tooth-protecting properties, an excess can pose potential harm. This is particularly relevant for children, who often ingest more toothpaste than adults. They are advised to use only a minuscule amount—comparable to the size of a grain of rice—during each brushing.
A recent study conducted by researchers from Poznan University of Medical Sciences and the Medical University of Bialystok in Poland revealed that hydroxyapatite may be an equally effective solution. The compound has already been identified as beneficial for gum disease and tooth hypersensitivity and could easily be incorporated into daily dental hygiene practices.
Dental researcher Elzbieta Paszynska from Poznan University of Medical Sciences asserts, “Hydroxyapatite offers a safe and successful alternative to fluoride for everyday cavity prevention.”
In a double-blind randomized study, 171 participants ranging in age from 18 to 45 were randomly allocated either a hydroxyapatite or a fluoride toothpaste, without the knowledge of which they received. The participants, all of whom had similar dental health, maintained their usual brushing routines and diets.
After 18 months of consistent brushing and routine dental examinations, there was an indistinguishable difference in new cavity development between those using hydroxyapatite and those using fluoride. Roughly 90 percent of each group had no new cavities.
Hydroxyapatite not only inhibits mineral loss from teeth (which can lead to cavities) but also promotes the teeth’s natural repair process. By adding this mineral to toothpaste, it can contribute to ‘minimally invasive’ dentistry, preserving as much tooth tissue as possible through regular brushing routines.
Regulators have deemed hydroxyapatite as safe and it can be synthetically produced for inclusion in toothpaste. While some steps remain before it could replace fluoride, hydroxyapatite presents a compelling argument.
“Clinical trials conducted prior to our study have revealed the cavity-preventing benefits of hydroxyapatite for at-risk groups such as children and orthodontic patients,” states Paszynska. “Our new clinical trial demonstrates that hydroxyapatite can also prevent dental caries in adults, which has considerable public health significance.”
This research has been published in the esteemed journal, Frontiers in Public Health.
