Our teeth are exposed to different chemical and mechanical stressors daily, including chewing and grinding of teeth and acid and bacterial attacks. When the enamel is worn off, it does not regenerate naturally. With Bioniq® Repair-Toothpaste, the enamel can be “brushed back”.

Bioniq® Repair-Toothpaste was developed according to the principles of bionics. This term is a combination of "biology" and "technology" and describes the transfer of principles found in nature into technical application.

Using bionic approaches is a very effective and popular concept, according to which many successful products have already been developed in the past decades. Well-known examples are the camera lens which was developed on the model of the human eye, the Velcro, and the jackhammer were also inspired by nature. Dr. Wolff has now taken a similar approach for their Bioniq® Repair-Toothpaste and developed a biomimetic enamel, which is modelled based on natural enamel using the tooth-like ingredient hydroxyapatite. 

The enamel is the outermost layer of the visible part of the tooth. It is also referred to as enamelum. In adults, healthy enamel is 1.5 to 3 millimeters thick and shields the underlying dentine.

This protective layer is made of up to 97% hydroxyapatite. Hydroxyapatite is a mineral from the calcium phosphate family and is characterized by an extremely high degree of hardness. The main components of this mineral are anorganic substances such as calcium, phosphorus and sodium. The crystalline form of the mineral gives the enamel its resistance. Since the enamel is almost entirely composed of the mineral hydroxyapatite, the enamel can be considered as the hardest substance in the human body.

Intact enamel is very important for the health of our teeth. Its main purpose is to protect the underlying layers of the tooth from the penetration of bacteria, which can cause oral diseases such as cavities and pulpitis, gingivitis and periodontitis.

At the same time, the enamel also covers the small nerve channels (dentinal tubules), protecting them from external influences. Sensitive teeth that react with pain to cold and hot or the consumption of sweet and sour foods can be an indication of exposed dentine and the loss of hydroxyapatite.

Furthermore, this substance also plays a role in the coloration of the teeth. Hydroxyapatite crystallites are naturally white. Due to the high concentration of hydroxyapatite in dental enamel and the underlying dentine, which comprises of around 70% hydroxyapatite, our teeth appear whiter. The crystalline form also gives our teeth a slight glow. Hence, intact enamel and hydroxyapatite are the key to naturally white teeth.

However, the enamel is subject to natural wear caused by daily chewing and grinding of food. The high strength and resilience of enamel protects the underlying layers of the tooth from wear. However, continuous stress causes the enamel to wear off little by little. This is an extremely long and drawn-out process but there are factors that promote enamel wear:

• diet (acidic food and drinks)
• incorrect brushing technique (too much pressure/toothpastes with abrasive particles)
• unremoved plaque (finally leads to demineralization of teeth)
• tooth grinding

Is it possible to halt the natural wearing away of the enamel?

Unfortunately, not. As the enamel does not contain any nerve fibers and blood does not flow through , the enamel is not sensitive to pain. However, this also means that the enamel does not consist of living cells and can thus also not be replaced by the body.

If the enamel is damaged, the risk of cavities and other oral diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis increases which can in the worst case lead to the loss of tooth. Fortunately, steps can be taken to prevent the natural enamel from wear, reducing the probability of oral care diseases.

Hydroxyapatite has been used as an active ingredient in a variety of dental and oral care products since the early 90s.

Nowadays, more than 200 international studies including clinical trials have confirmed the efficacy of toothpastes with hydroxyapatite in oral care.

Hydroxyapatite adheres to the tooth surface. It repairs microscopic defects whereby it forms a protective layer preventing the natural enamel from daily wear. At the same time, bacteria find it harder to build up on teeth, thereby reducing the formation of dental plaque, preventing cavities and protecting healthy gums. Teeth feel smoother and become whiter due to the white nature of the biomimetic crystallites.

Publications on hydroxyapatite can be found here.

Dr. Wolff relies on hydroxyapatite as multifunctional active ingredient in it‘s Bioniq® range for modern oral care. With 20% hydroxyapatite, the Bioniq® Repair-Toothpastes contain an uncommonly large amount of the material/mineral/substance. This makes our toothpaste so valuable.

At the same time, the formulation of our products has been developed to suit the different oral care needs of our customers. While Bioniq® Repair-Toothpaste can be used for daily oral care and helps to reduce teeth sensitivity, Bioniq® Repair-Toothpaste PLUS specifically focusses on gum protection and reducing gum issues.

Our teeth can roughly be divided into three areas: the crown, the neck and the root.

The crown is the visible part of our teeth. It‘s main function is to chew food. The neck lies between the crown and the root and are usually covered by the gums. The root is completely covered by the gums. It is anchored in the jawbone and holds the teeth in place. The roots supply the tooth with nutrients, blood and lymphatic fluid to keep it healthy and alive.

Gums
The gums cover the neck of the tooth and protect the underlying parts of the tooth and jaw from the ingress of bacteria. Healthy gums are pale pink and firm to the touch.

Enamel

The enamel is the outermost layer of the tooth structure and encases the crown. It is the hardest substance in the human body and is almost entirely composed of the mineral hydroxyapatite. Daily chewing and various other factors can form microscopically small defects in the enamel over time, which means the underlying layers are no longer optimally protected.

Tooth fissures

The small grooves and depressions on the molars are called fissures. Although these help when chewing up foods, they are also highly prone to cavities.

Dentine
The dentine lies below the enamel and consists of so-called dentin tubuli. It is the second hardest substance in the human body and around two thirds of it are hydroxyapatite. Unlike the enamel, the dentine regenerates itself throughout our lives.

Tooth pulp
The tooth pulp is a soft, gelatinous connective tissue, consisting of blood vessels, lymph fluid and nerve fibers.

Root cementum

The root cementum is part of the periodontium (the tooth's supporting structure) and surrounds the root and the neck of the tooth. Its main function is to hold the tooth in the jaw.

Establishing an oral care routine can help to prevent tooth and gum issues.

Brushing is one of the most effective methods of maintaining oral health and supporting the long life of the teeth. Daily brushing is focused primarily on the visible areas of the teeth: the enamel, fissures, the interdental spaces and gums, in particular the gum line.

The objective is to remove food remains and bacterial deposits known as plaque. This protects the teeth and gums from attacks by microorganisms and prevents the formation of cavities or gingivitis.

Also use dental floss or interdental brushes to clean the spaces between your teeth. The use of mouthwash is to minimize the bacterial load in the oral cavity.

Moreover, try to eat a healthy diet and avoid the excessive consumption of sugary drinks throughout the day. Ideally, sweet things should be eaten immediately after a main meal so that the bacteria do not have a continuous new food supply.

Attend the six-monthly check-up appointment at your dentist, so that periodontitis can be detected at an early stage and regularly have your teeth professionally cleaned (scale and polish) at your dental surgery. During treatment, the teeth are not only cleaned but potential risk factors are also detected.