'Breakthrough' Toothpaste Ingredient Promises to Rebuild Decaying Tooth

A new toothpaste ingredient has the potential to repair and reverse tooth decay while patients sleep, according to the British university that developed the ingredient.

BioMinF is designed to slowly release calcium, phosphate, and fluoride ions over 8-12 hours to form fluorapatites that rebuild and strengthen tooth structure, according to the researchers. The ingredient is being hailed as a “breakthrough” that could help drive down tooth decay rates among children and adults.

“Using remineralising toothpaste makes teeth far more resistant to attack from acidic soft drinks like fruit juices and sodas. It is also much more effective than conventional toothpastes where the active ingredients, such as soluble fluoride, are washed away and become ineffective less than two hours after brushing," said Robert Hill, chair of Dental Physical Sciences at Queen Mary, University of London, in a press release.

Hill led the team that developed BioMinF. He also founded a company, BioMin, to market the ingredient.

Richard Whatley, the company’s CEO, said he’s already working on licensing deals with the makers of toothpastes and other dental products, such as polishing pastes and varnishes. He said the company hopes to add investor stakeholders to help grow the company without the need for venture capital.

“Our aim is for the BioMin brand to become synonymous for the treatment of tooth sensitivity in the eyes of both the dental profession and the general public,” Whatley said, in the press release.

The company is also working on a fluoride-free version of its product.

BioMin’s own line of toothpaste is already on sale in the United Kingdom. No date has been announced for US sales.