Why “Remineralizing” Toothpaste Can Sometimes Backfire: A Nutritional Therapy Perspective

As a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, I’ve spent years helping people optimize their health from the inside out. Having read Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston A. Price during my studies, I was well aware of how much oral health can be affected by diet and lifestyle. More recently, however, I had a personal experience that completely changed how I think about oral care products, especially products marketed as “remineralizing” with hydroxyapatite (HAp).

My Experience with Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste

My family had been using a hydroxyapatite toothpaste for several years, trusting it to remineralize my teeth. It was a well known ‘non toxic’ toothpaste that the holistic community had been excitedly sharing about as a ‘safe’ alternative to fluoride. Surprisingly, several members of my family, including myself, developed new cavities. This was a shock to me since, as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, our diet was pretty pristine. I started wondering if a few of our homemade, organic treats that we ate every so often could be the culprit but before completely ridding all forms of treats from our lifestyle I decided to do a little research on the toothpaste ingredients. After investigating, I realized that HAp, while marketed to repair enamel, creates a rigid lattice of calcium and phosphate on the tooth surface. This lattice can interfere with saliva’s natural enzymes, which are essential for maintaining pH balance and transporting minerals to enamel.

In other words, the toothpaste I trusted to ‘remineralize’ my teeth was actually preventing my body from naturally restoring mineral balance, potentially leading to mineral depletion over time.

Saliva: God’s Design for Oral Health

Our bodies are ingeniously designed. Saliva plays a central role in oral health by:

• Bathing teeth in bioavailable minerals.
• Buffering acids produced by oral bacteria.
• Delivering enzymes like amylase, peroxidase, lysozyme, and carbonic anhydrase that support oral homeostasis (Dawes, 1987).

Rather than relying on synthetic coatings, the goal is to work with God’s design, supporting saliva and natural remineralization. Our bodies were made to prevent cavities on its own.

The Myth of Tooth Healing

Many brands promise that their toothpaste can ‘heal’ or ‘regrow’ teeth. While these claims are enticing, the truth is that enamel cannot regenerate once lost. True oral health depends on preventing demineralization and supporting the body’s natural protective systems, not chasing synthetic fixes.

True oral health depends on preventing demineralization and supporting the body’s natural protective systems, not chasing synthetic fixes.

The Science Behind Hydroxyapatite Concerns

While hydroxyapatite is widely studied and considered safe for short-term enamel applications, early stage lab research highlights potential concerns with hydroxyapatite:

• Oxidative stress: Animal studies show that high doses of nano-hydroxyapatite may increase oxidative stress markers in tissues (Zhang et al., 2019).
• Tissue calcification: Rodent studies suggest excessive synthetic calcium phosphate can contribute to ectopic calcification in soft tissues (Bhaduri et al., 2009).

These studies shed light on how the calcium phosphate bond of hydroxyapatite specifically can theoretically disrupt natural mineral cycles.

Snacking: An Underutilized Strategy in Cavity Prevention

We’ve always heard about how certain foods can cause cavity issues. But it goes beyond just what you eat…it’s when you eat too! One of the most overlooked factors in oral health is how often we eat. Constant snacking creates a continuous acid attack on teeth, tipping the balance toward demineralization.

• The mouth needs time between meals to remineralize and restore mineral balance.
• Regular meals plus 1–2 intentional snacks per day is plenty.
• Continuous grazing throughout the day can overwhelm saliva’s protective system, making teeth more vulnerable to cavities.

This is a simple yet powerful strategy that many people ignore. Giving your oral system time to recover naturally can make a huge difference.

Why Diet and Xylitol Matter

Supporting enamel is not just about toothpaste. A holistic approach includes:

• A nutrient-rich diet: Adequate calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, K2) provide the building blocks for healthy enamel. Focus on protein, and healthy fats first, and then add in carbs like plenty of veggies and fruits. Buy as cleanly as your budget will allow: organic, wild caught, grass fed, locally sourced, etc.
• Xylitol toothpaste: Unlike hydroxyapatite, xylitol works by disrupting biofilm formation, reducing acid-producing bacteria, and allowing saliva to naturally remineralize teeth. Zebra’s formula contains xylitol to help support demineralization by disrupting the bio-film that leads to plaque and cavities in the first place. It also contains calcium carbonate and theobroma cacao to help maintain minerals in the teeth. This is a total balance approach without interfering with natural processes.

Best Practices for Clean Oral Care

• Brush twice daily, and use a PFAS free/plastic free floss (like Zebra’s!)
• Limit over-application, more is not better. Excess product can trap bacteria and irritate tissue.
• Focus on diet, snacking habits/timing, and lifestyle to give your body the nutrients it needs for enamel maintenance.

Conclusion

Oral health is not about a miracle product; it’s about supporting your body’s natural design. By choosing non-toxic, xylitol-based toothpaste, eating nutrient-dense whole foods, and allowing your mouth time to remineralize between meals, you give your teeth and saliva the tools they need to prevent demineralization and maintain long-term strength.

Oral health is not about a miracle product; it’s about supporting your body’s natural design.

References

1. Featherstone, J. D. B. (2004). The continuum of dental caries—evidence for a dynamic disease process. J Dent Res, 83(Spec No C): C39–C42.
2. Dawes, C. (1987). Salivary flow and salivary composition in health and disease. J Dent Res, 66(Spec Issue): 142–150.
3. Zhang, X. et al. (2019). Toxicological assessment of nano-hydroxyapatite in rats: oxidative stress and organ response. Toxicol Rep, 6: 815–822.
4. Bhaduri, S. B. et al. (2009). Calcium phosphate nanoparticles: implications for ectopic calcification. J Biomed Mater Res A, 91A(3): 713–724.