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Abstract
Are Hydroxyapatite Toothpastes The Answer To Fluoride Free Patients?
Richardson, Samantha 1 and Vaughan, Kelly 2
Dental Hygiene Program, Virginia Commonwealth University
Abstract:
Objectives/Aims: With the rising trend to become more clean with our ingredient lists, we are facing more patients refusing fluoride treatments and fluoridated toothpastes. This trend has been prevalent in our younger generations due to parents only wanting the purest natural ingredients for their children and now declining fluoride application. The goal of this literature is to find a safe alternative toothpaste that will be just as effective as fluoride.
Methods: This review of literature has been developed from searching the PubMed database in order to find relevant research on hydroxyapatite toothpastes. Many of these studies were conducted to compare multiple name brand toothpastes including fluoride and their alternatives like hydroxyapatite toothpastes in order to determine their effects on caries prevention and remineralization.
Results: Toothpastes with hydroxyapatite as an active ingredient were found to not be inferior to fluoridated toothpastes in caries progression in children. Hydroxyapatite has a high safety profile and no risk of dental fluorosis, which is a major point for patients who refuse fluoride use.
Conclusion: Hydroxyapatite has been shown to reduce biofilm formation in children and a preventative measure for further demineralization and caries protection. Although these studies sound promising, there can be improvement by enlarging the subject population, increasing the studies period of time, and the subjects need to be representative of: location, age group, socioeconomic status, oral health status and oral health literacy.
Key Terms: hydroxyapatite toothpaste, hydroxyapatite, children, fluoride, fluoridated toothpaste, remineralization, caries, and demineralization
Publication Date
2022
Keywords
hydroxyapatite, hydroxyapatite toothpaste, children, kids, caries prevention, caries, fluoride
Disciplines
Dental Hygiene | Dental Public Health and Education | Homeopathy | Other Chemicals and Drugs | Pediatric Dentistry and Pedodontics | Preventive Medicine
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Ms. LaTesha McLee, RDH, MSDH
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Dr. Oonagh Loughran
Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship
Date of Submission
April 2022
Included in
Dental Hygiene Commons, Dental Public Health and Education Commons, Homeopathy Commons, Other Chemicals and Drugs Commons, Pediatric Dentistry and Pedodontics Commons, Preventive Medicine Commons