I’m thrilled to dive into this week’s topic, which comes from a subscriber, Julie. If you missed the last edition of Mondays with Mark (Can Nano-Hydroxyapatite Cross the Blood Brain Barrier?) be sure to catch up, as it sets the stage for today’s discussion.
Julie asks, “Thank you for introducing Hydroxyapatite to me. Would you please comment on Micro hydroxyapatite, I know it’s not as effective as Nano, but does it work at all?”
The Great Debate: Nano vs. Micro HAP
Julie’s curiosity about Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is spot on. HAP, a naturally occurring mineral in our teeth and bones, plays a crucial role in toothpaste for remineralization and sensitivity relief.
Here’s the key point: Micro-sized HAP, often marketed as a “natural” alternative, is usually just ground-up bone or other forms of natural calcium. It sounds good, but there’s a catch. Micro-sized particles can be high in lead and other metals, posing potential health risks. We’ve done some digging and found that one of our competitors, who promotes micro-sized HAP as superior, actually has troubling levels of lead in their products. Also, the particle size of micro HAP is too large to be effective for remineralization or reducing tooth sensitivity.
The Nano Advantage
Enter nano. Nano HAP is the correct size to mimic the natural structure of your teeth. When you examine a natural tooth under high magnification, you’ll see nano-sized HAP crystals embedded within the tooth matrix. This is where the principle of “like likes like” comes into play—biomimetics. This biomimetic approach makes nano HAP far more effective at repairing and protecting tooth enamel.
Nano HAP is synthetically made through a precise process resulting in particles that are more uniform and high quality. It’s derived from a precise process involving food-grade salt and phosphate, resulting in a product that’s both effective and safe.
Does Micro work at all?
Micro HAP does offer some benefits, as early studies indicated. Its early data was promising, but nano wasn’t in use then!
Mixing micro with nano isn’t advisable either, as the larger micro particles can clump, interfere with the effectiveness of nano particles, and potentially lead to tartar buildup.
When reviewing information from manufacturers or toothpaste companies, it’s crucial to understand the context of their data, which is typically based on studies. However, the relevance of these studies can vary significantly depending on their timing. More recent research often supersedes older studies. For example, while micro technology once represented a breakthrough in desensitizing and decay prevention, nano technology has since emerged as the superior option. Unfortunately, many companies may still promote outdated micro technology without acknowledging newer, more effective solutions like nano. Always check the publication date of the studies cited. If the research is a decade old or more, it’s essential to verify its relevance against the latest data. Ideally, there should be tools or AI that cross-references older studies with newer ones to ensure you’re getting the most up-to-date information.
Now that nano is here, micro is old news. Does it work? A little, but when it comes to remineralization, nano works better because it’s the right size.
Why Size Matters
Nano, even though it’s synthetic, is remarkably effective because its particles closely match the size, shape, and makeup of natural tooth structures. Micro technology, on the other hand, doesn’t quite measure up. Micro particles tend to be too large, clumped together, and not well-structured. This mismatch means they don’t integrate as effectively with tooth enamel, leading to less optimal results.
Nano is also better for oral microbiome health; Oral microbiome bacteria have outer membranes and rely on calcium to thrive. Micro particles, being too large, can’t effectively interact with these bacteria. It’s not just about remineralization; supporting your oral microbiome is crucial too. Nano-HAP, however, can penetrate these bacterial membranes, acting almost like a supplement for the beneficial bacteria in your mouth. This makes it a valuable tool for both protecting and enhancing your oral health.
I hope this sheds light on why nano-sized HAP is the better choice for oral care, compared to micro. As always, I’m here to help with any questions you might have.
Now, for another topic…
I’ve also been getting a lot of questions recently about oral microbiome testing (also commonly referred to as salivary testing) from both clinicians and patients — how it works, why it’s useful, and which test to use.
To answer those, we need to first understand what the oral microbiome is and how it affects our health:
What is the oral microbiome?
It’s the community of over 800+ unique species of microbes — bacteria, fungi, and viruses — that live in our mouths.
Some of these microbes are beneficial (commensal) to our health; they help prevent disease, aid in digestion, and perform critical functions like nitric oxide production. Others are harmful (pathogenic) and play a role in causing issues like cavities, periodontal disease, and bad breath.
Certain oral bacteria have also been associated with systemic conditions including diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, adverse pregnancy outcomes, gut disorders, and cancer.
What causes cavities and periodontal disease?
There is a common misconception that they’re caused solely by a few harmful bacterial species.
The truth is these diseases are the result of an imbalance between the levels of dozens of different beneficial and harmful microbes in our mouth, also known as oral microbiome dysbiosis.
To reduce risk for oral diseases and achieve lasting health & wellness, it’s not just about killing the bad bugs, it’s about promoting the good ones to create a balanced community.
Why is oral microbiome or salivary testing important?
Salivary testing for your oral health is like routine bloodwork for the rest of your body. It helps you understand what’s happening at the microscopic level, how it can impact your health, and what you can do to stay healthy.
Most tests only analyze a handful of microbes (roughly ~5 to 30 species), typically the ones considered to be harmful. But that gives a very limited view into one’s health. Even worse, it could potentially be misleading without knowing what the rest of the community is.
That’s why I encourage everyone to use Bristle Health’s comprehensive oral microbiome test. Unlike other tests, they profile the entire oral microbiome with a single saliva sample — giving insights into not only risk for oral diseases, but also overall health including gut inflammation & nitric oxide production along with recommendations on how to improve.
I chose to be an advisor for the company because their unique approach of looking at the full community of microbes is key in truly understanding the health of your mouth.
P.S. If you’re a clinician interested in Bristle testing for your practice, sign up here to connect with their team.
If you’re a patient looking to test your oral microbiome, you can do it yourself at home with Bristle. Use code DRB15 for a limited time 15% off through the end of September 20th. Once you get your results, I encourage you to share them with your dentist so they can use it in determining your care plan.
