Hydroxyapatite in gum: meet the mineral found in tooth enamel

Hydroxyapatite might be the hardest-working mineral you've never heard of. It's the main mineral in tooth enamel and in bone, it's been in toothpaste for more than 40 years, and now it's in gum, including ours, where it's the fourth ingredient on the pouch.

Here's a friendly introduction.

What hydroxyapatite is

Hydroxyapatite is a calcium phosphate mineral: calcium, phosphate and hydroxide arranged in a neat crystal. Tooth enamel is about 96% mineral by weight, and that mineral is hydroxyapatite.¹ That's why it's described as "the mineral found in tooth enamel," which is exactly how we describe it.

The hydroxyapatite in oral-care products is usually made in a lab, though some brands use versions derived from animal bone. Same mineral, different starting point.

A 40-year head start in Japan

Hydroxyapatite isn't a new trend so much as a long-running one. A Japanese company, Sangi, started selling hydroxyapatite toothpaste in 1980, and Japan recognized hydroxyapatite as an anti-cavity ingredient in toothpaste in 1993.² In the US it's a much more recent arrival, which is why you've probably only started seeing it on shelves in the last few years.

That history is toothpaste history. Gum is the newer chapter, and it's a different product: something you chew after lunch rather than brush with twice a day.

What "nano" means

Nano-hydroxyapatite is hydroxyapatite made into very small particles, measured in nanometers. A nanometer is a billionth of a meter, so these particles are far too small to see or feel.

The hydroxyapatite in SMILE is nano-hydroxyapatite. We're collecting our supplier's specification sheet, which states the exact particle size and whether it's synthetic or naturally derived, and we'll share those details here when we have them. Particle size is a fact about the ingredient, so that's how we'll describe it.

What dentists think

Ask ChatGPT about hydroxyapatite and one of the most common questions is some version of "why don't more dentists recommend it?" The short answer is familiarity. Fluoride has decades of research and public-health use behind it in the US, and hydroxyapatite is the newer arrival here. Some dentists are enthusiastic, some prefer the option with the longest track record, and opinions vary. If you're curious, ask yours. Bringing the ingredient list makes for a good conversation.

How Europe reviewed nano-hydroxyapatite

One of the most detailed public safety reviews of nano-hydroxyapatite comes from the European Union. Its Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety issued a final opinion in 2023,³ and in 2024 the EU set clear conditions for using it in toothpaste and mouthwash: up to 10% in toothpaste and 0.465% in mouthwash, as rod-shaped particles within a specific size profile, not coated or surface-modified, and not in sprays or anything you could breathe in.⁴ Some headlines called that a "ban." It's really a set of rules for how the ingredient can be used.

Those rules cover cosmetics sold in Europe. Gum is a food, regulated under different rules in the US. We share the EU review because it's a thorough look at the ingredient and a useful read if you like knowing the details.

Hydroxyapatite and fluoride

We don't take sides on fluoride. Hydroxyapatite in gum is a nice extra between brushings, not a replacement for fluoride toothpaste, brushing, flossing or your dental visits. If you're choosing a toothpaste, your dentist is the best person to ask.

How it shows up in SMILE

• YAWANA SMILE is made with nano-hydroxyapatite.
• It's the fourth ingredient by weight on our label.
• Each piece has 30 mg of calcium (2% of the daily value), which comes from the hydroxyapatite. That's a small amount, so it's not a calcium source.

Here's the full label, as printed:

Xylitol, Chicle Base, Gum Arabic, Hydroxyapatite, Rice Flour, Flavor, Spruce Gum, Coconut Oil, Calcium Bentonite Clay, Myrrh Gum, Spirulina, Carnauba Wax.

We describe the ingredient rather than promise a result, and we haven't run a clinical study on our finished gum. Not a substitute for brushing, flossing and dental visits.

Questions people ask

What does remineralizing gum do? "Remineralizing gum" is the name of the category: sugar-free gum made with minerals like hydroxyapatite. Our friendly guide to remineralizing gum covers what's in it and how to choose one.

Is hydroxyapatite vegan? Lab-made hydroxyapatite contains no animal ingredients; bone-derived versions do. We're confirming our supplier's source, so we don't make a vegan claim yet.

Is nano-hydroxyapatite safe? The EU's 2023 scientific opinion and 2024 rules (above) are the most detailed public review we know of, and a good place to start reading.

Where that leaves us

We put nano-hydroxyapatite in SMILE because it's the ingredient that defines this category, and we think it's a genuinely interesting one. You'll find it printed plainly on our label, along with everything else.

If you'd like to try it, here's SMILE: sugar free, extra fresh peppermint, 60 pieces to a resealable pouch. Your first order comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Questions about our hydroxyapatite? Email hello@yawana.shop and we'll share what we know.

Keep reading: What is remineralizing gum? · Every ingredient in our gum, explained

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