Table of Contents
OUR TOP PICKS
- Best Plant-Based Formula –BOKA
- Best with Probiotics – Great Oral Health
- Best Product Line Variety – RiseWell
- Best Easily Accessible in Stores –David’s
- Best with Philanthropic Contributions –Dr. Raven’s
- Best Unique Features – Better & Better
- Best Fluriode nHa Combo (Not fluoride-free) – CariFree
- Best Environmentally Friendly –OJOOK
- Best Tasting –Elims
In a world where we are constantly surrounded by poisons, toxins, carcinogens, forever chemicals, and heavy metals, it can sometimes feel like we have no control over whether or not these poisons get into our bodies. This article will hopefully bring some relief to those worries we all deal with.
Frankly, it’s disturbing how so many of these dangerous compounds seem to be in things we use on a daily basis. This article will focus on fluoride found in toothpaste and its non-toxic, safe counterpart nano-hydroxyapatite. Fluoride is a dangerous toxic chemical used in drinking water and toothpaste (among other things) that can remineralize teeth.
Nano-hydroxyapatite is a safe, natural, non-toxic alternative that you can use to protect yourself from the dangers of fluoride. The best part is its ability to remineralize teeth is on par with fluoride’s. Some even argue that it’s potentially better at remineralizing your teeth than fluoride.
We’ve put together this list of types of toothpaste and oral care products that have nano-hydroxyapatite in them for you to decide what’s right for you.
What is nano-hydroxyapatite?
Nano-hydroxyapatite or nHA comes from hydroxyapatite, a natural mineral in the human body. It was reportedly invented by NASA in the 70s to help astronauts combat bone and enamel loss while spending long periods in space travel.
It’s found in high quantities in saliva, hard tissue, bones, and enamel, HA makes up a large portion of the human body. It makes up around 60-70% of hard tissue and 90% of tooth enamel. Nano-hydroxyapatite is a bioavailable mineral that the body can use to remineralize teeth. It bonds to deep layers of the tooth’s surface and not only remineralizes teeth but also is great at helping reduce teeth sensitivity.
This compound also has biomimetic properties, which means it mimics the qualities of your natural tooth enamel. Not only does it remineralize teeth just as well as fluoride, but because of its non-toxic chemical structure, it can be ingested with no negative side effects.
Look, our teeth don’t decay because of a FLUORIDE deficiency. There’s no fluoride in our teeth. Our teeth decay because the microbial environment and acidity in our mouth changes because of our diets. And we lose our natural hydroxyapatite content in our teeth.
That’s why brushing frequently is so important. Using fluoride or nHa isn’t really necessary, but using nano-hydroxyapatite in place of fluoride actually gives your teeth what they need to naturally remineralize.
Recently nHA has been introduced to the oral care market as a non-toxic alternative to fluoride for its remineralization properties and its ability to help reduce dentin hypersensitivity.
In Japan, a country with one of the highest life expectancies, nHA is the gold standard for toothpaste, cavity prevention, enamel remineralization, and teeth brightening. Products containing nHA can also be found in the USA, the Netherlands, and Canada, among others.
Is nano-hydroxyapatite toxic?
Because of its natural presence in the human body, tissue, bones, and enamel, even the synthetic nano version of hydroxyapatite is widely recognized as safe and non-toxic for humans. According to this study, nHA is safe if ingested on accident, induces no toxicity symptoms, nor causes any inflammatory response.
Is nano-hydroxyapatite FDA approved?
Despite its popularity and prevalence in the oral care marketplace, nHA has not been approved by the FDA in the United States.
Is nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste better than fluoride?
Some studies have placed nHA at comparable levels to fluoride in terms of its usefulness in aiding remineralization, decreasing tooth sensitivity, and brightening teeth. Another study compared 10% hydroxyapatite with 500 ppm of fluoride (amine fluoride) and found that the former worked just as well to remineralize enamel.
Combine its efficacy with the fact that it’s non-toxic, personally, I’m leaning towards nHA being superior.
Can hydroxyapatite heal deep cavities?
Hydroxyapatite and nano-hydroxyapatite can heal deep cavities by remineralizing the enamel from within the teeth, reaching the innermost part of dental cavities. Unlike its toxic counterpart fluoride which uses the help of calcium and phosphate in saliva to form a new compound called fluorapatite. This new compound works to cover enamel and remineralizes the teeth while also protecting them from damage from acidic food and drinks.
| David’s | RiseWell | BOKA | Elims | Better & Better | Dr. Raven’s | Great Oral Health | OJOOK | CariFree | |
| Price per oz | $1.89 | $3.00 | $3.00 | $3.50 | $3.67 | $3.74 | $4.99 | $6.00 | $7.50 |
| Fluoride-free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| SLS-free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| Paraben-free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | Yes | N/A |
| Free of articificial flavors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | Yes | N/A |
The Best Toothpastes That Have Nano-Hydroxyapatite
BOKA
BOKA is an oral care brand that truly puts your health first, and its products are proof of that. Arguably one of the most popular brands, BOKA takes a holistic approach to oral care. Their belief is that by starting with oral health, you can subsequently improve the other areas of your health as well.
With the mouth being the source of disease and chronic inflammation in people, it makes sense that using non-toxic toothpaste would be a great way to reduce your overall risk for other health-related issues.
BOKA also donates one toothbrush per BOKA brush sale to their non-profit partner, Surge. Surge helps to bring clean water to those in need around the globe.
Great Oral Health
Great Oral Health is another oral care company that appreciates traditional and natural healing and has products to reflect that. Great Oral Health has a unique product lineup that includes nHA toothpastes, oral essential oils, non-toxic bamboo toothbrushes, and dental probiotics.
They’ve developed proprietary dental probiotics which aim to improve immune function, reduce the production of harmful oral bacteria, and fight off pathogenic diseases.
Check Great Oral Health on Amazon
RiseWell
RiseWell toothpaste definitely stands out from the crowd. For starters, they have very consistent branding which is aesthetically unique and catches the eye. Not to mention their large product lineup including toothpaste, kids’ toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, mints, and travel packs.
RiseWell makes several amazing promises to the customer such as being manufactured in the USA, is backed by clinical studies, being 100% safe and natural, and being developed by dentists to name a few. Additionally, they claim it’s safe enough to eat, something that virtually zero toothpaste brands in your local grocery store will be able to promise.
David’s
David’s toothpaste is one toothpaste brand that contains nano-hydroxyapatite which can be found in popular stores such as Target, making it one of the more well-known brands.
David’s brand toothpaste ensures only the highest quality ingredients are used in their natural toothpastes while also supporting American jobs by sourcing their ingredients from the USA. David’s defines natural as “Derived from Nature”. As crazy as that sounds, marketing using the word “Natural” doesn’t always mean derived from nature. So this transparency is refreshing.
Their products are guaranteed free from artificial flavors, preservatives, colors, and sweeteners. What’s more, their products are 100% cruelty-free and vegan and not animal-tested. Finally, they also promise a toothpaste that performs better than fluoride-containing competitors.
David’s easily has the most diverse lineup of flavors I’ve seen thus far on this list. Most of the other brands have 1 or maybe 2 flavors. David’s flavors include Strawberry Watermelon, Peppermint, Peppermint (for sensitive teeth), Spearmint, Charcoal Peppermint, and Herbal Citrus Peppermint.
Dr. Raven’s
Dr. Raven’s toothpaste is a family-owned brand that started with a doctor’s search for a safer fluoride toothpaste that led to her creating her own brand. It’s manufactured in the USA, and 3% of all profits are donated to oral healthcare improvement projects around the globe. Dr. Raven’s comes in three flavors, Enlighten-mint (Charcoal whitening), White Peppermint, and Big Berry Strawberry.
Better & Better
Better & Better toothpaste is perhaps the most publicized toothpaste that has nano-hydroxyapatite on this list. It’s been featured in publications such as Marie Claire, GQ, Today, Well + Good, Business Insider, ELLE, WWD, Beauty Matter, and Happi.
Better & Better’s claim to fame: they “create absurdly ideal products that are better for you – and better for the planet.” Better & Better is clearly on a mission to help humans become their best selves while doing so using environmentally friendly practices.
They acknowledge the evils and harm caused by harsh soaps, cruel animal products, plastics, chemicals, and other compounds making our personal care products dangerous.
Better & Betters’s product lineup consists of toothpaste, floss, toothbrushes, and recycled toothbrush head replacements. Not only that, but each of their toothpaste variants has its own signature quality. These include energy, immunity, and fortification.
Check Better & Better on Amazon
CariFree
CariFree is a very unique line of toothpaste that has nano-hydroxyapatite as well as fluoride. CariFree is designed specifically for younger individuals (mostly children) who are dealing with dental caries.
Dental caries is used to describe a dental condition (or lesion) that can be described as decay-causing bacteria that lead to acids attacking the tooth’s surface. CariFree’s tooth gel uses a combination of nHA, fluoride, and a proprietary pH+ technology which helps neutralize decay-causing acids.
OJOOK
As seen in Vogue, Forbes, Men’s Health, The Zoe Report, and BuzzFeed, OJOOK toothpaste is another popular brand of toothpaste that has nano-hydroxyapatite. OJOOK’s mission is stated on their website as “TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF OUR BODIES AND PLANET BY TRANSFORMING QUOTIDIAN TASKS INTO SACRED RITUALS.”
OJOOK believes that cultures in East Asia already have this oral health thing figured out and that maintaining good oral health is one of the best indicators of longevity. OJOOK aims to bring synergy to science, mastery, and cultural heritage.
OJOOK’s product lineup includes nHA toothpaste, natural PUFA-free silk floss, and natural bamboo toothbrushes that are free of all plastics, and BPA. Their toothpaste contains nHA, as well as bamboo salts or “Jukyeom”. It comes in one flavor and promises cavity prevention, strengthened enamel, healthier gums, fresh breath, and teeth whitening.
Their packaging is 100% recyclable down to the plastic cap. Additionally, their nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste is free of SLS, sulfate, preservatives, parabens, endocrine disruptors, Titanium dioxide, Zinc oxide, artificial and natural sweeteners, synthetic and natural dyes, alcohol, and synthetic flavors. Phew… that was a lot.
This is clearly a quality product with a very apparent passion for natural healing. A lot of the toothpastes we researched for this list that didn’t make the cut failed to mention anything about the inclusion or omission of these dangerous ingredients in their products. OJOOK clearly understands what consumers want to know about these products which is why we’re putting it at the top of the list of best nano-hydroxyapatite toothpastes.
Its price definitely reflects its quality. If you believe in getting what you pay for, you’ll be paying upwards of $6 per oz of this stuff when it’s not on sale. Making it nearly 2 times as expensive as everything else on this list thus far.
Elims
Elims nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste is another brand that has garnered some fame in large publications such as Vogue, Forbes, HuffPost, and WebMD. Elim’s product lineup includes Reflection Toothpaste, Magic Melt-Away Teeth Whitening, and Bamboo Electric Toothbrush Heads. The toothpaste comes in Orange Mint flavor and Lavender Vanilla Mint. Elim’s nHA toothpaste is $3.50 at regular price, making it a good competitor price-wise.
Most of these toothpaste brands don’t actually disclose the amount of nHA in the toothpaste, but Elim’s is clear about the nHA content. According to the product description, they are powered by 10% nano-hydroxyapatite. Additionally, Elim’s is free from, parabens, toxins, SLS (an artificial foaming agent), and artificial colors or flavors.
Elims makes it loud and clear in its message that they are passionate about healthcare and fighting climate change.
“We’re proud of what we’ve created and know there is a lot more work to continue to innovate for climate technology and healthcare.
So join us, and we promise to do better, together.”
Their core values are:
- Belief in natural talents. Never selling anything they don’t formulate ourselves and always use the planet’s best ingredients.
- Belief in science, and using clinical research to ensure their products are safe and effective at promoting better health.
- And a belief in doing better. They improve by innovating and searching for new ways to make the world a better place.
Personally, I love when brands make these values apparent. Some of the contenders for this list of best nano-hydroxyapatite toothpastes didn’t make the cut due to a lack of transparency in their brand message.
It’s harder to gauge whether or not a product is safe to buy when nothing is said about the company’s integrity or reason for making the product. Especially when some of the same companies failed to mention whether or not their products contained dangerous ingredients found in most toothpaste out there.
Does Sensodyne have Nano-Hydroxyapaite?
No, Sensodyne does not contain nano-hydroxyapatite. You won’t find nHA on the ingredients list of Sensodyne. The main ingredients in Sensodyne intended for reducing tooth enamel sensitivity are potassium nitrate and stannous fluoride. These ingredients also help to fight against cavities with twice a day brushing. Depending on which Sensodyne toothpaste you buy you may find other ingredients including sodium fluoride, pentasodium triphosphate, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), xanthan gum, hydrated silica, glycerol, PEG-8, sweeteners, and titanium dioxide.
Which floss brands have nano-hydroxyapatite?
- 1. RiseWell
- 2.
- 3. OJOOK
- 4. Dr. Jen
RiseWell
Making its second appearance on this page, RiseWell’s floss is a top choice for nano-hydroxyapatite floss. Their nHA floss comes in 30 meters for $8 at the time of writing this. It’s promised to be vegan and cruelty-free, not to mention its free from artificial flavors, petroleum-based waxes, and the forever chemical teflon.
Better & Better
Better & Better just knows how to make products health-nuts and Earth-lovers will appreciate. Their Natural Floss comes in a refillable glass jar. Not only is their floss infused with nHA, but it also comes with a natural and plant-based guarantee, it’s vegan, and eco-friendly. These guys just don’t miss. Their floss comes in at $11.99 for a one time purchase of 30 meters (not including tax and shipping).
Check Better & Better on Amazon
OJOOK
OJOOK developed another floss collection we feel obligated to tip our hats to. It also comes in a small refillable glass jar. The floss itself is make from 100% compostable italian silk, it’s infused with Korean bamboo salt, coated with ethically harvested beeswax, and nano-hydroxyapatite. Their floss is guaranteed to be free from PFAS, PTFE, plastic, and is 100% is cruelty-free. They’ve got my vote.
Their floss comes in at $14 for 30 meters making it the most expensive on our list so far. However, with a product description like that, there’s no wonder. You’re getting what you pay for on this one.
Dr. Jen
Dr. Jen’s natural silk floss is a great non-toxic alternative to regular grocery store floss. The silk base makes it completely natural and compostable. It’s also infused with nHA. This one is unique as it comes in 3 delicious flavors. Dr. Jen’s is backed by a clinically proven guarantee, environmentally-friendly pledge, and is approved and developed by their own team of dentists.
Dr. Jen also promises their floss is paraben-free, all-natural, plastic-free, and can even help remineralize your teeth. Their floss will run you $12 for 30 meters.
The Verdict
Frankly, there is a lot of good competition in the nano-hydroxyapatite oral care market right now. Most of them make similar promises at comparable price points. Ultimately, you will have to decide which brand is best for you. Personally I’ve been using Boka for months and haven’t looked back. Although, Elims’ Lavender Vanilla Mint flavor is calling out to me. I might have to try that one next.
