New toothpaste ingredient helps tooth sensitivity
A new toothpaste ingredient called BioMinF claims to replace the lost minerals from tooth enamel, prevent tooth decay, and treat sensitivity while you sleep. It is expected to be available through high street stores by the end of the year.
Toothpastes containing BioMInF are able to slowly release calcium, phosphate and fluoride ions over an 8-12 hour timeframe to allow the mineral fluorapatite to rebuild, strengthen and protect tooth structure. The slow release of fluoride has been identified to be particularly beneficial in prevention of tooth decay, an issue which (along with tooth sensitivity) is estimated to affect 13.5million people in the UK alone.
“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 Professor Robert Hill, Chair of Dental Physical Sciences at Queen Mary, University of London, who led the team which developed BioMin and won the 2013 Armourers and Brasiers Venture Prize.
“This breakthrough innovation could significantly reduce dental decay and also tooth sensitivity problems which are often experienced by people eating or drinking something cold,” said Professor Hill.
He also added that “The technology behind BioMin is not however exclusively designed for toothpastes,” added Professor Hill. “It can also be incorporated in other professionally applied dental products such as cleaning and polishing pastes, varnishes and remineralising filling materials.”
Professor Hill co-founded BioMin Technologies, which aims to commercialise the development. The company will be led by chief executive Richard Whatley.
“We are very excited by the prospects of developing the patented technology which has been licensed from Queen Mary University of London and Imperial College,” Whatley said.
A fluoride free version of BioMin is also being developed for individuals who do not want or need fluoride toothpaste.
