My boyfriend had his dentist warn him about severe enamel erosion on two successive dental cleanings and he was supposed to immediately stop drinking anything acidic (which he privately chose to ignore and continued drinking acidic beverages daily). I finally talked him into switching from Sensodyne to Boka, his tooth sensitivity that had driven him to use Sensodyne for years went away within a week or two, and his next dental cleaning his dentist commented on the improvement to his teeth. For me, nHAP toothpaste got rid of my sensitivity within about a week of use, and after a few months my next 2 cleanings actually got me compliments from my dentist and hygienist to keep it up. I literally used to brush 3-5x and floss 2x a day and use mouthwash, avoid sugar, and rinse my mouth after eating when using fluoride toothpaste and *still* would regularly get cavities (had to get a crown after literally chipping a molar chewing a crusty baguette). After over a year of nHAP (using Boka and Bite bits products, but I prefer Boka), my teeth are shinier, more opaque/white, a lot of those vertical line looking things have filled in, and a blunt trauma hairline crack I’ve been able to feel with a fingernail for over 20 years can no longer be felt and can only be seen in certain lighting. This stuff has been life-changing for me, it is a joy to use, and I cannot live without it.
Brushing 5x a day is harmful. Dentists recommend brushing 2x a day and flossing once per day. Too frequent and overbrushing wears down enamel (and damages gums).
That's really cool I recently got a clean done and I think she was a bit to harsh and I have a craze line and my teeth feel so weak could I please know the exact toothpaste you used or use??
I just want to point out that your teeth looked good and healthy before. The fact that there is no difference between then and 6 months after, just shows that it works and does the job like it's supposed to. This is honestly enough of a reason to begin avoiding flouride and start looking for hydroxyapatite containing alternatives, without fucking up your teeth (like by not introducing an effective and less unhealthy alternative to replace the sheer effectiveness and purpose of flouride). EDIT: I'd like to add that I've ordered two tubes of Biomed's flouride free, hydroxyapatite containing tooth paste to try it out for myself, I'll come back here after a few months as well... if I remember to :) If I haven't replied here after such time, just thumb me up or comment and I'll see it lol
@@Aethelhadas Actually, excellent! I usually have a severe toothache due to a broken tooth, especially after I eat chocolate. I use "Biomed Sensitive", although I could only get it online because we don't have this kind of toothpaste in our in-store pharmacies even. But if I brush consistently, my ache is completely non-existent, gradually moving from severe-torture-pop-4-pain-killers-in-order-to-just-be-able-to-think-pain, in only a few days. Now, I'm aware of what happens when I stop, and my teeth looks and feels healthier than ever. Even though I really have to get that tooth fixed... and I should probably start flossing too, lol. I just need to get used to it. I shit you not, whichever toothpaste you choose, brush your damn teeth! Cause one day (or TWO, because this happened TWICE), you're eating popcorn and *POP* one of those nasty ass corns chops a tooth right off. You don't want the pain that comes with having your roots infected so listen to your mommies, kids, BRUSH YOUR DAMN TEETH!! Or choose the carousel of paralyzing agony. The choice is yours.
I have been using a hydroxyapatite toothpaste for about 5 years. The only advantage I saw in the beginning was that my teeth sensitivity stopped and that was a major change. But I was worried about the worn out enamel in my front teeth (translucent areas on my two front incisors). Then I read somewhere that if you want to remineralize your enamel you have to actually not rinse your mouth after brushing with the HA toothpaste. Since I thought that was not an option for me, I started dabbing a little bit of the toothpaste on those worn out areas right before bedtime. And it worked! One of my teeth improved by 90% but the other one improved only slightly probably because it was much more worn out. I’m still working on it though.
I have been searching the internet for this! I want to put some in a tooth whitening tray but don’t want to mess with my gums or do it if it doesn’t work. First comment I’ve found so thank you! Going to dab a tiny bit on my babies teeth while she sleeps. Dentist wants to put fluoride stain on them 😢
@@asthalagoo8676 I use an MLM brand that is not available in stores (so I won’t mention the name) but it contains both hydroxyapatite and xylitol. I also have a tube of Boka because I find its flavor (ginger coconut if I’m not mistaken) to be mild enough for the no rinse treatments. I just purchased a tube of the David’s toothpaste with both HA and xylitol but I haven’t opened it yet. There are now more brands to choose from than before I strongly recommend to get something with xylitol in addition to the HA because the former is a natural non-fermentable sugar that protects against cavities. Boka does not contain xylitol that’s why I don’t brush with it. I just use it for the application before bedtime or during periods of the day when I’m not eating and drinking.
For me, if for no other reason, AND because the results were comparable, I would go with the n-Ha toothpaste, simply because it is absent of fluoride. In fact, I just ordered a 4-oz tube a minute ago, my first of this type. I’m 65 years old and just now learning about this. Cripes!!!
My enamel on my front teeth has chipped away in some spots, I could feel the toughness. After using Boka for two weeks now, and my teeth already feel smoother. I can see the chipped enamel spots shrinking. The best part is my teeth feel clean and polished, like a professional teeth cleaning. Personally I love it so far. We bought because our son has a lip tie and it has caused beginning stages enamel erosion. After some research we decided to try Boka, and I can already see a difference in his teeth. The best part is, he likes the toothpaste, so he actually wants to brush now (coconut ginger is his favorite).
I think another factor is you already have top tier teeth from the start in comparison, but I can see a slight improvement in your results. I rarely brushed my teeth before New Year's as much as I should have. I started using hydroxyapatite toothpaste tablets last month and my teeth are already better, whiter, less see through and my molar cavity is gone.
Switched to Boka recently myself. Love the NaH given studies on it and it's lack of toxicity, that fluoride has so much of. Also love the xylitol for the bonus of preventing bacteria from reproducing and digesting in your mouth leading to decay as well.
Different take : The fact that they are not getting worse is a win. Personnaly, I would only use it for pulling after brushing with a mix of water and xylitol. No rinse after pulling.
Yes, there is a difference between the top left (before) and top right (after 6 months), it looks more solid at the tips of the middle 3 teeth (unless it's the lightng effect). You can take x-ray of before and after and that would tell you if your teeth are more solid/dense. Hardly any difference for the 2 months.
i wouldnt expect a super noticeable change cosmetic-wise. it can whiten a bit sure, but other whitening ingredients like baking soda and other mild polishers work best when they're all together. it definitely smoothens out your teeth and fixes micro cavities and gets rid of sensitivity after a month or so of daily use. and its not toxic either which is another plus. i use weldental nha toothpaste tablets which were the first nha toothpaste i tried and they're really good. try using those for 6 months and see if they make a bigger difference
Thanks for reminding me, I actually have weldental tablets from a review I did a bit ago…I will finish using them and see if there’s a difference; I didn’t like using them in general, it felt kind of slimy to me…but for the sake of seeing how they work I can use them up!
I felt like my teeth were getting more translucent and ugly yellow when I was using fluoride toothpaste, then I learned fluoride was a neurotoxin so no way I'd keep using the stuff. With Nano-hydroxyapatite my teeth are less sensitive, a rough area on a back molar that chipped and was then sanded at a dentists is now very smooth, in general my teeth are smoother. This is within 3 months of use. Though, the yellowing and transparency seem to have no change, but importantly haven't gotten worse. From what I saw I'd say your teeth improved by 5-10% over the 6 months, hard to see but still there.
Had extremely 4 sensitive areas that are now gone due to Remin toothpaste. I thought they were bad cavities but all I needed to do was switch to this ingredient. Amazing results. A dental school told me about it & very grateful.
I just want to say that I personally am appalled at the fact that fluoride & brands like Colgate & crest have been pushed on us for so long. It’s coming out that SLSulfate is carcinogenic and some brands have been taking it out of our shampoos & some soaps but then when you look on the back of crest toothpaste tube, there it is-so we don’t put it on our bodies but we put it right in our mouths still! It makes no sense! So while you may not see a change cosmetically at least you’re not getting poisoned by microdose everyday☹️and that’s something to be happy about. Idk about you but I’m tired of all the forever chemicals & lies. Maybe you could try Dr Brite & do a review on them.
I read Boka toothpaste has 2% nano hydroxyapatite. According to the studies 10% was used. I think Apagard and Xpur Remin have 10% nano hydroxapatite if you want to try this experiment again.
I also heard the percentage of nana hydroxyapatite is really important. The problem with Apagard is that it's hard to buy since it's only Japanese from what I understand. Could you please share your thoughts on "Biorepair", "NOBS", "Great Oral Health Toothpaste". These brands are apparently super popular/respected.
Would have been a great idea to not only do a test with before and after pictures but to see the teeth surface microscopically, let’s remember that this is supposed to fill the micro pores or tubes that can’t be seen with the naked eye. Thanks for the video!
I agree, photos are hard to use as a metric because almost all the variance is due to lighting conditions & exposure settings on your camera. It would be better to pass light through your teeth and measure the attenuation (aka do an x-ray, but with red light instead of literal x-rays). That being said, your original video & research made the point that nanohydroxyapatite enters through pores in your enamel and can work from the inside out. If it is indeed working internally, there may be limited surface effects visible on your enamel.
@@askahygienist any good dentist practice should have access to an x-ray in their practice... it shouldn't be too hard to encounter one if you'd really wanted to... (in my country in Europe that is ... For those seating this just call around and find out )
@@abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0 I don’t think we are talking about that kind of x-ray. Furthermore, I am a dental hygienist, and I make my videos from home, so very limited on what kind of technology I can use 🫤
I've been using this toothpaste for over 2 years now and while the results are subtle, the way my mouth feels is night and day in difference. Let me explain. I have really weak enamel and have always struggled with cavities. Fluoride never ever seemed to do anything for me for some reason and over time I started noticing horrible sensitivity, pitting, staining, and chipping on my teeth. This is partially because I just flat out refused to brush my teeth (which is gross I know but hear me out). I bought this toothpaste after doing some research and, like you, was disappointed at first that I didn't see drastic differences. But I kept using it because it got me to actually brush my teeth. nHA (or mHAP same thing just a slight particle size difference) isn't toxic when you swallow it. This meant that my laziness of not wanting to leave my desk to brush my teeth or something was now no longer a barrier. I have sat with my toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss in a drawer at my desk for the past 2+ years and I've honestly hardly ever missed a night now. So purely by value of the convenience factor, my mouth is now healthier. My teeth now NEVER have sensitivity problems and some of the pitting and pre-cavity areas are actually shrinking and healing which I did not think was possible. Maybe it's just a trick of my mind or something, but to me - if my teeth feel better and look better then it must be so. The old "if it looks like a duck" adage I suppose. I should point out that I have also cut down my soda's and sugars to a large degree which has likely done a large amount of that work. But I wouldn't have done that if I didn't have a starting place for oral healthcare that I felt was "an actual starting point" in the sense that I felt like if I followed it I'd see progress. With fluoride toothpaste before, when I was consistent, I continued to have cavities and sensitivity. That is now a thing of the past it seems thankfully. Anyways - I truly believe that nHA toothpaste has single-handedly saved my oral health. If you ever have issues with fluoride or suspect that you might be having an issue with it (or you just want something to kick your laziness) I highly recommend giving nHA toothpaste a shot. It does NOT solve EVERY problem and, no, it is not going to make your mouth a supermodel in a few months. Changes take time - especially with teeth (as I've had to learn the hard way). Take care of em'! If that's nHA toothpaste, or flourish or whatever - more power. I can vouch for it's strength though.
MI paste has really helped me with the translucent edges. The paste has phosphate, calcium, and casein. It is not for brushing, you leave it on over night to help remineralize your teeth. I think they also have a toothpaste but that would probably not be as effective since the point of the paste is to leave it on your teeth for as long as possible. Check it out if you get a chance. Would be nice to hear your feedback on that.
Great update! My experience has been similar. I can’t say I see a difference but I do feel a difference. My teeth are, as you say, slicker. I like that
Thank you for the review! I think the main point here should be the effectiveness of hydroxyapatite in comparison with fluoride. The brand is incidental, except insofar as the formulation affects effectiveness.
You can’t rinse the toothpaste off. You need to brush and after you will feel a mild gritty feeling. You will want to rinse with water but it needs to be left on over night to be the most effective.
I'd choose the original Apagard than the generic toothpaste. The amount of Hydroxyapatite and the size of the particle are the most important factors. As they say, Japanese products should be better than American.
Oh I didn’t know that, makes sense! I did hear however someone mentioned before that they tried to get apagard and got a knockoff that wasn’t the real thing. Hard to order something online/internationally when you don’t know what the real thing looks/tastes like..
The difficulty you're having is because your camera was an auto mode it will change the contrast automatically. You need to set it to manual and have it set in the same settings before and after to see the true difference
🦷 I oilpull with teatree and coconut then swish with alkaline water and peppermint before the brush. I don't rinse and lastly apply a tiny amount paste onto teeth like I would a whitening gel and leave it. No rinse. 😁
Yea the b & a looks very similar. It is a nano-sized based effect so it will be hard to see with the naked eye but the structure and density do look better!
I appreciate your review! Interested to try the Boka toothpaste. I just purchased this product as I read that fluoride isn't ideal for low thyroid or hashimotos which I was more recently diagnosed with. However, the more readily available fluoride free toothpastes don't have anything in there to protect or remineralize. I was suggested to try this almost more as a treatment to get the same kind of effect as a fluoride toothpaste without the negative effects for my thyroid condition. We shall see!
I've started using elims. they give the % hydroxyapatite that they use, which I've noticed none of the other brands do! I'm liking it so far but idk if I've seen any difference
I have used it for a month and a half and the difference is huge. Then again, my teeth were a little messed up. Sore spots are gone and sensitivity is gone. I can drink ice water now like nobody’s business. My teeth also just look nicer and whiter.
Where Boka or David’s fits in is the situation I’m in right now. My dentist gave me a high Fluoride prescription toothpaste, Prevident. He wanted a fluoride free toothpaste as my first brush so I’m not overloaded in fluoride, but he did want a nano hydroxyapatite as my first brushing. So, to repair strengthen my enamel, he has me brushing with David’ first, then I re-brush with the prescription Prevident. He even wants me to thin coat my teeth and let sit for a long time at least a couple of times a week.
Sounds like your dentist cares :) I would actually recommend Dr. Jen’s as your hydroxyapatite toothpaste. It has a higher percentage of hydroxyapatite. They also have a Super Paste option which combines hydroxyapatite and fluoride; it has shown to provide better results than prevident. I’ll be doing a full review on their toothpaste soon, but you should check out their website!
Based on the technology in mi paste it should be less effective than hydroxyapatite. However it may benifit when it stays on the teeth longer than brushing.
We tried Boka before but it was no where near as good as using the Japanese version. With Boka my teeth were still very sensitive and hurt at times. After a few days of switching to Apagard Premio the sensitivity totally went away.
Oh, have you looked into any of the CariFree products? One of their products is a blend of fluoride and hydroxyapatite. There's also a fluoride-free version. Plus, they have rinses, kits, and other products.
@lolerie that's what I buy from UK Amazon since it's banned in America and Canada Amazon bans shipping that toothpaste to the US. Shipping is expensive from the UK
Do you rinse out after you brush with the boka toothpaste? Try leaving it as is states on the tube. Or try crest densify for a month like it states and try a before and after photo.
What about a toothpaste like carifree which has hydroxyapatite and fluoride in it? I’m assuming this wouldn’t be safe to apply on teeth and letting it sit overnight because then you’d be swallowing fluoride
Assuming you wouldn’t be applying a huge amount, it’s technically deemed “safe” to apply overnight at least in the US. At the end of the day though, it is known to be toxic in higher doses; I personally try to limit my exposure to fluoride.
I appreciate your honest assessment with Boka. I just ordered a tube during Black Friday and will try it out for myself. Other than aesthetics, do you find your teeth more immune to sensitivity since Boka? I'm also trying bentonite clay as an alternative for remineralizing. P.S I was looking for a good toothbrush for sensitive gums a while back and decided to go with Nimbus when I came upon your review - it's been a few months and I love the brush so thank you for recommending it!
Unfortunately I did not experience any relief from sensitivity with the boka toothpaste. I ended up using a desensitizing agent to cover the exposed dentin areas that worked immediately.
@askahygienist what desensitizing agent cause my friend only brushes his teeth once a day cause it hurts him that much to brush and I'm wondering if I should try boka for him before I get a desensitized agent or just get the agent
@@andrguts52 your friend should go to the dentist to see why it hurts just to brush teeth. It can be an issue with the gums, or something significant with the teeth. Brushing generally should hurt if you are doing it right with a soft brush.
@@andrguts52 if it’s hurting with just normal brushing your friend should go to the dentist and get teeth/gums looked at. There can be a lot of other factors at play.
don’t rinse with water after brushing!!! it defeats the purpose. that’s probably why you don’t notice a huge difference - it can’t rebuild much if you only rub it in for a minute and immediately wash it all away! lol. just spit it out. you get used to it.
I mention this often but I don’t like to leave in all the nasty plaque that I just brushed off without rinsing. I rinse out and then go back in with fresh toothpaste and rub it all over my teeth and leave it overnight. I didn’t do it every night but still.
I rinsed as usual but I brush my teeth at least for 2 minutes. The cracks on my two front teeth healed completely after two years of using hydroxyapatite toothpaste .
Started using Boka after my dentist suggested it as an alternative to Sensodyne. Biggest difference between conventional fluoride toothpastes is getting used to spitting and not rinsing after brushing. (Which requires you floss _before_ brushing, not after.) The entire efficacy of nHa toothpastes is based on not rinsing after application, so don't bother with the nano toothpastes unless you are willing to change your rinsing habit. Noticed an improvement in sensitivity after only a week of use. At four weeks of use, my teeth felt as resistant to cold and ice water as they did when I was a teenager. I only wish I had started using a nHa product several years ago when hypersensitivity first started developing. I am convinced any nHa toothpaste or tablets will produce the same result, so interpret this comment as a vote for nHa rather than any specific brand (although the Boka Ela-Mint flavor is delightful). Weeks prior to starting Boka, I couldn't comfortably tolerate ice water. I was shocked that my enamel could have been restored from this product alone (and a healthy remineralizing diet and routine), but it has. The surfaces of my teeth enamel now feel like glass, and cold winter air is no longer a problem. I have used conventional low-abrasive anti-cavity fluoride toothpaste for decades. As far as it goes, they were effective, until they weren't, several years ago. When I first experienced sensitivity, I also tried spitting the fluoride pastes out instead of rinsing. Initially, I felt some improvement in surface hardness, but little-to-no effect on sensitivity. Actually, the failure of this technique to improve sensitivity provoked me to seek an alternative to my usual fluoride brands, Aim and Colgate Regular. My dentist emphasized that fluoride toothpastes don't penetrate the enamel through the tubule matrix, so they only provide protection on the outermost enamel layer. Protection which only lasts 1-2 weeks if you stop brushing with fluoride. In contrast, nHa, when applied according to the toothpaste directions, enters and occludes tubules in the enamel that directly exposed to nerves on the dentin-enamel junction, so enamel repairs feel like they are occurring at a much deeper level. By the same reasoning, you might expect the nHa particles to begin a repair process wherever defects are adjunct to the tubule network. Without question, something is going on, as I've noticed a reduction in visibility of enamel striations after just 3 months use. I've observed some mild whitening, but the cosmetic whitening results are not overwhelming. The smoothness and hardness of my teeth ridges has improved as well. Overall, I couldn't be happier with the results, because it feels like a big paradigm shift has occurred away from dentists prescribing Sensodyne. In the US version, the active ingredient is a nerve blocker, rather than something that remineralizes enamel efficiently. I hope it's a matter of time when nHa toothpastes replace fluoride as the standard of care in the US. Just had a cleaning last week, and explained to the hygienist I had switched from fluoride to nHa. (It was the first time in several years I wasn't jumping out of my seat during the cleaning from sensitivity.) She was mute on the topic, and gave me a Crest sampler following the cleaning. I felt like I had to go around her to get the nHa recommendation from the dentist instead of the hygienist. I have concluded that fluoride is not efficacious for hypersensitivity caused by decades of wear and enamel-unfriendly foods and beverages. There is a conspiracy within the ADA to avoid making nHa the standard in dental prevention, or at least co-exist with fluoride. Of course, these nHa toothpastes are all costly, which may be the reason my hygienist don't routinely recommend them in the first place. The only nHa toothpaste I have found on the drugstore shelf is David's, and its formulation is not low-abrasive. In conclusion, I hope US dentistry starts making nHa the new standard of caries prevention, because without a restrictive diet and snacking, brushing with fluoride has been next to worthless for me, and probably others, and has _not_ prevented sensitivity from developing as it should have.
All great points, thanks for sharing! I feel like some hygienists are hesitant because nhap is relatively new in the US. I do also hope it becomes the standard for caries prevention because of its more lasting effects. Agrees it doesn’t help to change the color of teeth but certainly does contribute to a more smooth enamel which allows for less staining!
Well if you rinse it off your mouth afterward you won’t really see any results, you should let it sit on your teeth overnight then you may see a huge improvement also the nano in there is only 2% which is a very minimal amount to see the drastic results that you was looking for! Good luck
Great Oral Health has a toothpaste with Nano-HA. They claim theirs has 6% N-HA compared to 2% in Boka. I haven't been able to find much info on this company's claim. Have you researched them at all?
@@askahygienist Sorry for the confusion. Great Oral Health claims their brand has 6.5% N-HA, as listed in their video description. th-cam.com/video/WSM49WTo4D4/w-d-xo.html
Been using hydroxyapatite for years. Unlike fluoride, don’t rinse! I go to sleep with it in my mouth. Also, they say size of the particles and dosage is important for best results, I use Apagard Premio from Japan, but just because I started using it from Amazon before the US product came out already a decade ago. In the morning I use fluoride paste to act as a shield for my teeth for the coming day and to cut costs a bit. Several studies on dual use seem to point to it as best strategy.
Think of hydroxyapatite and fluoride etc are like putting a thin coat of wax on your car …. It will not regrow your car if it has had a dent in it….. they will slow the future wear and are good preventives and if you have a higher rate of decay I would say yes use something like boca or fluoride toothpaste and then you would have to take bitewings frequently to track lesions progression all of these are very large (macro) test that may show something but remember you are working with microscopic molecules so the effects are probably on the microscopic level again the thickness of wax on a car still useful but not super visible.
I don’t know about the wax coating analogy. I recall in my teens I had several “incipient” cavities visible on bitwing X-rays - basically only into the enamel layer, considered reversible. Over the years I was diligent with my home care routine and diet choices and did NOT use fluoride OR hydroxyapatite products, and all the areas healed, solid white on X-rays. Fluoride may be more like a wax coating, but hydroxyapatite has been shown to penetrate deeper into the tooth and rebuild enamel on a microscopic level. This is noticeable especially if you have very rough enamel that easily collects stain; I’ve noticed on my own teeth after a couple years of consistent hydroxyapatite use, smoother enamel and less stain.
Do you ever leave the hydroxyapatite toothpaste on your teeth? Like, not rinse it off, right? I kinda wonder if that impacts its effects. Also, maybe 6 months isn't enough to see a difference. I use Boka now, but also regular fluoride toothpaste - and I like it! I am going to keep using Boka!! 🦷
Throughout the experiment I would leave it on overnight about once a week. I would brush, rinse (so I get out all the plaque I just brushed off) and then reapply some toothpaste all over my teeth with my finger and go to sleep with it on.
Like with flouride, you are supposed to give it about 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything to give it time to do it's thing and soak in. I drink some water a few minutes after sometimes and just kinda try not to swish it all around and it's fine. It definitely does seem to work better if you don't immediately follow it up with another liquid and just wash it all away.
@@misssplendid4035 I have been swallowing Boka toothpaste for 2+ years now. I suppose maybe I might walk in tomorrow and get diagnosed with the most awful thing in the world - but NASA did initially use this stuff with astronauts for help with bone-density - in the form of pills if I recall correctly. Based on that and the science I've dug up on it, I'd say it's safe to swallow.
My 2 cents… You can’t fix a lifestyle problem with a mineralizing toothpaste. The change you saw in the first month was probably because you had a slightly different diet. Acid extracts the minerals in your teeth. Coffee, saur kraut, soda drinks, alcohol, etc. I’d start with looking up the Ph of everything you drink. Stop eating and drinking acidic foods and drinks and if you do, immediately drink or wash your mouth with a bit of alkaline water to neutralize the acid. You could also wash up with a home-made baking soda solution or a pure glycerin soap solution. Good luck.
Hmm thanks for the tip. I can’t say my diet has changed much over the months and I always drink water after meals anyway, I’m aware of the need to restore pH :) maybe I’ll give the baking soda a go and monitor changes as well.
@@askahygienist I just use the granules at home (~ 1/8-1/4 tsp). Let it dissolve, swish around mouth, & then just let it sit iny mouth for 2-3 minutes, then spit.
i use GC toothmousse , but is ia a very slow process. My teeth gets certainly more white. I always compare it with my white filling. Shallow cavities are most easy, erosion on the edges are very difficult. Sleeping wit your mouth open increase tooth erosion, and using hydroxapetite will not help. I use it mainly for prevention, because i am cavity prone
@@askahygienist plain simpel, your teeth needs saliver to rebuild and mineralize, no saliver no mineralasation. Front teeth are more susceptible than molars , molars are hedden in the bach of your mouth
I see a huge difference at 2:58 It shows me that they'd be much better if you had been using the product for 10 years it would be a whole different smile.
What you are trying to accomplish happens from within. ADEK vitamins will help. That’s Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K. These are the fat soluble vitamins required to rebuild white healthy teeth.
So in the grand scheme of things, I’m not overly concerned about that because you are not generally ingesting it. Sodium benzoate has the POTENTIAL to convert to benzene when it is digested. But in theory, I suppose yea, it’s not 100% the cleanest natural toothpaste brand.
Isn't this exactly what we want?! 😅 the same results without the possibility of poisoning ourselves? Unless this stuff could also be toxic in a higher than pea sized swallow?
How come the tips of your lower teeth (mostly) look transparent, is it just discoloration or due to demineralization ? Do you have sensation in those transparent teeth ?
Those teeth are pretty sensitive to cold, yes. They are in fact translucent/transparent, not discolored. I honestly am not sure why that is. It may be because of all the teeth whitening I used to do. I am also suspicious of possible history of acid erosion. Unfortunately I didn’t monitor it over the years, and only noticed it when it was significant.
Are you sure? I just ordered Boka, Risewell and Davids for a taste test. Boka and Risewell both have sorbitol which, if I remember the information correctly, cause acid in the mouth. The information said xylitol toothpaste only.
Hm, I did check into that and it looks like long-term consumption of sorbitol (actually ingesting, not topical) can cause gut problems and affect pH in mouth. But just topical use as in toothpaste or chewing gum actually stimulates saliva flow to help regain pH balance after eating. In general, all sugar alcohols have an upside and downside
It works great but you can supercharge it by eating xylitol candies or gum every day. It’ll definitely give you the “ drastic “ results you’re after. Plus you get to eat candy all day😂 it’s a win win
@@askahygienist lol no problem. Believe it or not, over a period of about 6 months, I actually filled in several large cavities I had, just by using the candies or gum, and regular brushing. I’ve also switched my diet to keto so everything I eat is just better overall for oral health. Eliminating sugar or carbs is a huge help.
I appreciate these videos so much, after just now watching your first video on Hydroxyapatite I was gung-ho for it and added some to my Amazon cart, now that I watched this followup, I'm still going to buy it to try but I'm not going to buy five tubes, just one for now ;-)
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate is a surfactant - what helps the toothpaste foam up/clean the teeth. It’s considered safe. Dimethyl Sulfone or MSM is used to help with inflammation. Generally considered safe/non-irritating although some sources show that larger amounts can be irritating. Overall this isn’t the “cleanest” toothpaste out there; I’ve moved on to other brands since the making of this video.
I'm just curious, but did you see how your teeth show up in an x-ray after using the Boka toothpaste? From my understanding, your teeth can look fine, but there may be decay that can only be detected with an x-ray.
Weird solution but what about keeping the mineralizing ingredients on your teeth for far longer? Like 10 mins a day? I feel like scrubbing somthing around on your teeth for 2 mins just couldn't possibly do much
Why do you suppose that? I guess our spit can pool on the larger occlusal surfaces of molars, but there are saliva glands all over our mouth, I would think saliva touches all our teeth..
@@askahygienist i'm guessing that remineralization would occur more in areas with decay/cavities than areas with wear from mechanical abrasion because in the former case you're reversing chemical decay with a chemical process, but in the latter case you're trying to reverse a mechanical "decay" with a chemical process so it's less harmonized. also the hydroxyapatite in the toothpaste may have an easier time staying inside the crevasses in the occlusal surfaces (like food does), than it does sticking to the faces of the front teeth. now when you used the hydroxyapatite toothpaste, did you rinse after brushing? i wonder if you would get more effect if you don't rinse and let as much of it stay on your teeth as possible. yeah i think i'm going to try that actually. another thing is that most people i've talked to online who have healed cavities with hydroxyapatite have also been supplementing vitamin K2 (Mk-7), which supports mineral utilization throughout the body, as well as vitamin D3. someone recommended me an italian toothpaste called "biorepair" that has hydroxyapatite in it that i have been using, and if that in conjunction with D3 and K2 doesn't heal my cavities i will just get them filled.
Hello! Have you ever tried analyzing how your diet affects whether your teeth remineralize properly or not? What are your thoughts on Dr Weston A. Price's theories?
Hm, I started reading his book but didn’t get very far, good reminder! I’ll have to pick it back up and get back to you. For starters diet definitely plays a role
I've heard of Dr. Price back in 2014 and I recently met with a medical dentist who said that certain nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin D3, K2, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, can cause tooth decay despite proper hygiene habits. Dentists tend to tell you to avoid sugar but never really tell you what to add to your diet to help your teeth. I did have deficiencies in most of these and I was using a crappy quality electric toothbrush and floss, so I started supplementing and invested in a better quality toothbrush and floss. So both hygiene and sufficient nutrition are very important for teeth.
@@komfykoala6083 thanks for sharing! Yes, I should do a video on this, a wholistic health approach is vital to oral health, and nutrient deficiencies can definitely be a factor contributing to poor oral health.
@@mind_of_mine Hi there. I haven't had a dental cleaning in 8 months but my teeth feel smooth and no sensitivity. So I'll have to wait till my upcoming dental appointment to really tell the difference. But my vitamin D levels improved i haven't been sick in 9 months.
i'm glad you were honest, but i think you have to follow the user instructions given by boka in order to give a fair review. so, brushing for 2 minutes and letting it sit on the teeth for around 20 mins without rinsing, 2x/day.
The real issue is that these commercial nhap toothpastes don’t really contain enough nor do they contain small enough particles of nhap to get the full benefit
I’ve tried toothpaste tabs before and my biggest complaint was with the texture, felt slimy. I didn’t have that problem with the NOBS brand. I can’t speak to the efficacy because I didn’t use them for very long..
Hi, by the pictures it’s a bit misleading and can’t see much of a difference. Have you tried the brand Regenerate? Toothpaste, foaming mouthwash and treatment serum. I would love to see your take on it.
Dr. Jen toothpaste uses hydroxyapatite, it's really good, and Tom's of Maine does as well, the rapid sensitive teeth relief formula. And I think there are many others. Now. My question is, is there any advantage to using both fluoride and hydroxyapatite together? And are there any toothpastes on the market that combine the two? Thanks.
There are a few that combine the two. I know Ollie brand has a toothpaste like that. I personally don’t care for fluoride, I feel like we have enough in our water where I’m at. Since hydroxyapatite achieves the same thing fluoride does, I don’t really see a need to do both. At the end of the day it’s up to you :)
Well, it is not Apagard premio, is it... I bought that one, cause they were first. There is also Novamin formula that has both nano-MHAP and fluoridine.
If you just ate, sure you can rinse first but if it’s been a while, the bacteria in your mouth has digested your food and excreted an acid that forms plaque on your teeth. It sticks to the teeth with a very adherent biofilm layer so the only way to get it off is manually wiping it away with floss between the teeth and brush on the visible surfaces/under the gums. At that point rinsing won’t do much.
Boka toothpaste is too expensive, does Biorepair recommend it? I am so scared of the effects of fluoride on my body that I have to choose hydroxyapatite toothpaste
May I say, I appreciate the fact that you’re trying to find a truth rather than push an agenda
Me too!
Me three!
Yep
WELL STATED, Thankss🙏
I concur!!!
My boyfriend had his dentist warn him about severe enamel erosion on two successive dental cleanings and he was supposed to immediately stop drinking anything acidic (which he privately chose to ignore and continued drinking acidic beverages daily). I finally talked him into switching from Sensodyne to Boka, his tooth sensitivity that had driven him to use Sensodyne for years went away within a week or two, and his next dental cleaning his dentist commented on the improvement to his teeth. For me, nHAP toothpaste got rid of my sensitivity within about a week of use, and after a few months my next 2 cleanings actually got me compliments from my dentist and hygienist to keep it up. I literally used to brush 3-5x and floss 2x a day and use mouthwash, avoid sugar, and rinse my mouth after eating when using fluoride toothpaste and *still* would regularly get cavities (had to get a crown after literally chipping a molar chewing a crusty baguette). After over a year of nHAP (using Boka and Bite bits products, but I prefer Boka), my teeth are shinier, more opaque/white, a lot of those vertical line looking things have filled in, and a blunt trauma hairline crack I’ve been able to feel with a fingernail for over 20 years can no longer be felt and can only be seen in certain lighting. This stuff has been life-changing for me, it is a joy to use, and I cannot live without it.
Brushing 5x a day is harmful. Dentists recommend brushing 2x a day and flossing once per day. Too frequent and overbrushing wears down enamel (and damages gums).
That's really cool I recently got a clean done and I think she was a bit to harsh and I have a craze line and my teeth feel so weak could I please know the exact toothpaste you used or use??
Whats nHAP?
@@zarasayed05they said which toothpaste they used in their comment
@@Evajivnano hydroxyapatite
I just want to point out that your teeth looked good and healthy before. The fact that there is no difference between then and 6 months after, just shows that it works and does the job like it's supposed to. This is honestly enough of a reason to begin avoiding flouride and start looking for hydroxyapatite containing alternatives, without fucking up your teeth (like by not introducing an effective and less unhealthy alternative to replace the sheer effectiveness and purpose of flouride).
EDIT: I'd like to add that I've ordered two tubes of Biomed's flouride free, hydroxyapatite containing tooth paste to try it out for myself, I'll come back here after a few months as well... if I remember to :)
If I haven't replied here after such time, just thumb me up or comment and I'll see it lol
Yo
I’ve been using fluoride free toothpaste but didn’t even know about hydroxyapatite until just today watching her videos.
How is it going?
@@Aethelhadas Actually, excellent! I usually have a severe toothache due to a broken tooth, especially after I eat chocolate. I use "Biomed Sensitive", although I could only get it online because we don't have this kind of toothpaste in our in-store pharmacies even. But if I brush consistently, my ache is completely non-existent, gradually moving from severe-torture-pop-4-pain-killers-in-order-to-just-be-able-to-think-pain, in only a few days. Now, I'm aware of what happens when I stop, and my teeth looks and feels healthier than ever. Even though I really have to get that tooth fixed... and I should probably start flossing too, lol. I just need to get used to it.
I shit you not, whichever toothpaste you choose, brush your damn teeth! Cause one day (or TWO, because this happened TWICE), you're eating popcorn and *POP* one of those nasty ass corns chops a tooth right off. You don't want the pain that comes with having your roots infected so listen to your mommies, kids, BRUSH YOUR DAMN TEETH!! Or choose the carousel of paralyzing agony.
The choice is yours.
Checking in😀
I have been using a hydroxyapatite toothpaste for about 5 years. The only advantage I saw in the beginning was that my teeth sensitivity stopped and that was a major change. But I was worried about the worn out enamel in my front teeth (translucent areas on my two front incisors). Then I read somewhere that if you want to remineralize your enamel you have to actually not rinse your mouth after brushing with the HA toothpaste. Since I thought that was not an option for me, I started dabbing a little bit of the toothpaste on those worn out areas right before bedtime. And it worked! One of my teeth improved by 90% but the other one improved only slightly probably because it was much more worn out. I’m still working on it though.
I have been searching the internet for this! I want to put some in a tooth whitening tray but don’t want to mess with my gums or do it if it doesn’t work. First comment I’ve found so thank you! Going to dab a tiny bit on my babies teeth while she sleeps. Dentist wants to put fluoride stain on them 😢
Thanks for sharing, could you share the brand you are using?
@@asthalagoo8676 I use an MLM brand that is not available in stores (so I won’t mention the name) but it contains both hydroxyapatite and xylitol. I also have a tube of Boka because I find its flavor (ginger coconut if I’m not mistaken) to be mild enough for the no rinse treatments. I just purchased a tube of the David’s toothpaste with both HA and xylitol but I haven’t opened it yet. There are now more brands to choose from than before I strongly recommend to get something with xylitol in addition to the HA because the former is a natural non-fermentable sugar that protects against cavities. Boka does not contain xylitol that’s why I don’t brush with it. I just use it for the application before bedtime or during periods of the day when I’m not eating and drinking.
For me, if for no other reason, AND because the results were comparable, I would go with the n-Ha toothpaste, simply because it is absent of fluoride. In fact, I just ordered a 4-oz tube a minute ago, my first of this type. I’m 65 years old and just now learning about this. Cripes!!!
How long did it take to notice the improvement?
My enamel on my front teeth has chipped away in some spots, I could feel the toughness. After using Boka for two weeks now, and my teeth already feel smoother. I can see the chipped enamel spots shrinking. The best part is my teeth feel clean and polished, like a professional teeth cleaning. Personally I love it so far. We bought because our son has a lip tie and it has caused beginning stages enamel erosion. After some research we decided to try Boka, and I can already see a difference in his teeth. The best part is, he likes the toothpaste, so he actually wants to brush now (coconut ginger is his favorite).
Glad it’s working for your fam!
I think another factor is you already have top tier teeth from the start in comparison, but I can see a slight improvement in your results. I rarely brushed my teeth before New Year's as much as I should have. I started using hydroxyapatite toothpaste tablets last month and my teeth are already better, whiter, less see through and my molar cavity is gone.
What brand do you use? Boka?
What brand do you use
What brand?
What brand do you use?
Switched to Boka recently myself. Love the NaH given studies on it and it's lack of toxicity, that fluoride has so much of. Also love the xylitol for the bonus of preventing bacteria from reproducing and digesting in your mouth leading to decay as well.
Different take : The fact that they are not getting worse is a win. Personnaly, I would only use it for pulling after brushing with a mix of water and xylitol. No rinse after pulling.
Yes, there is a difference between the top left (before) and top right (after 6 months), it looks more solid at the tips of the middle 3 teeth (unless it's the lightng effect). You can take x-ray of before and after and that would tell you if your teeth are more solid/dense. Hardly any difference for the 2 months.
I've been using Boka for over a year. First thing I noticed that my teeth are whiter (I live for coffee 😉😊), probably 20/30% less sensitive.
Does it really help cavities? Any experience with that?
Update please
@@jl8805yes
i wouldnt expect a super noticeable change cosmetic-wise. it can whiten a bit sure, but other whitening ingredients like baking soda and other mild polishers work best when they're all together. it definitely smoothens out your teeth and fixes micro cavities and gets rid of sensitivity after a month or so of daily use. and its not toxic either which is another plus. i use weldental nha toothpaste tablets which were the first nha toothpaste i tried and they're really good. try using those for 6 months and see if they make a bigger difference
Thanks for reminding me, I actually have weldental tablets from a review I did a bit ago…I will finish using them and see if there’s a difference; I didn’t like using them in general, it felt kind of slimy to me…but for the sake of seeing how they work I can use them up!
My sensitivity was gone in days. Love it.
Add xylitol WITH the toothpaste, to raise pH of saliva
It even whitened my teeth
Yes. Their is a difference. I can clearly see it. I use the Risewell brand but may try Boka. Thanks!
I felt like my teeth were getting more translucent and ugly yellow when I was using fluoride toothpaste, then I learned fluoride was a neurotoxin so no way I'd keep using the stuff. With Nano-hydroxyapatite my teeth are less sensitive, a rough area on a back molar that chipped and was then sanded at a dentists is now very smooth, in general my teeth are smoother. This is within 3 months of use. Though, the yellowing and transparency seem to have no change, but importantly haven't gotten worse. From what I saw I'd say your teeth improved by 5-10% over the 6 months, hard to see but still there.
Had extremely 4 sensitive areas that are now gone due to Remin toothpaste. I thought they were bad cavities but all I needed to do was switch to this ingredient. Amazing results. A dental school told me about it & very grateful.
Thanks for sharing!!
How long it takes to see the results?
I just want to say that I personally am appalled at the fact that fluoride & brands like Colgate & crest have been pushed on us for so long. It’s coming out that SLSulfate is carcinogenic and some brands have been taking it out of our shampoos & some soaps but then when you look on the back of crest toothpaste tube, there it is-so we don’t put it on our bodies but we put it right in our mouths still! It makes no sense! So while you may not see a change cosmetically at least you’re not getting poisoned by microdose everyday☹️and that’s something to be happy about. Idk about you but I’m tired of all the forever chemicals & lies. Maybe you could try Dr Brite & do a review on them.
Dr Brite, i’ll have to look into that, thanks! Yes lots of chemicals and lies in this world :/
I read Boka toothpaste has 2% nano hydroxyapatite. According to the studies 10% was used. I think Apagard and Xpur Remin have 10% nano hydroxapatite if you want to try this experiment again.
I also heard the percentage of nana hydroxyapatite is really important. The problem with Apagard is that it's hard to buy since it's only Japanese from what I understand. Could you please share your thoughts on "Biorepair", "NOBS", "Great Oral Health Toothpaste". These brands are apparently super popular/respected.
Hi sorry just seeing this! I’ll add to my list
Would have been a great idea to not only do a test with before and after pictures but to see the teeth surface microscopically, let’s remember that this is supposed to fill the micro pores or tubes that can’t be seen with the naked eye. Thanks for the video!
True, though eventually microscopic results over a large enough area would create changes that could be seen to the naked eye..
I agree, photos are hard to use as a metric because almost all the variance is due to lighting conditions & exposure settings on your camera. It would be better to pass light through your teeth and measure the attenuation (aka do an x-ray, but with red light instead of literal x-rays). That being said, your original video & research made the point that nanohydroxyapatite enters through pores in your enamel and can work from the inside out. If it is indeed working internally, there may be limited surface effects visible on your enamel.
Definitely don’t have access to that kind of technology 😅 but yes that would be more precise.
@@askahygienist any good dentist practice should have access to an x-ray in their practice... it shouldn't be too hard to encounter one if you'd really wanted to... (in my country in Europe that is ... For those seating this just call around and find out )
@@abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0 I don’t think we are talking about that kind of x-ray. Furthermore, I am a dental hygienist, and I make my videos from home, so very limited on what kind of technology I can use 🫤
I've been using this toothpaste for over 2 years now and while the results are subtle, the way my mouth feels is night and day in difference. Let me explain.
I have really weak enamel and have always struggled with cavities. Fluoride never ever seemed to do anything for me for some reason and over time I started noticing horrible sensitivity, pitting, staining, and chipping on my teeth. This is partially because I just flat out refused to brush my teeth (which is gross I know but hear me out).
I bought this toothpaste after doing some research and, like you, was disappointed at first that I didn't see drastic differences. But I kept using it because it got me to actually brush my teeth. nHA (or mHAP same thing just a slight particle size difference) isn't toxic when you swallow it. This meant that my laziness of not wanting to leave my desk to brush my teeth or something was now no longer a barrier. I have sat with my toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss in a drawer at my desk for the past 2+ years and I've honestly hardly ever missed a night now.
So purely by value of the convenience factor, my mouth is now healthier. My teeth now NEVER have sensitivity problems and some of the pitting and pre-cavity areas are actually shrinking and healing which I did not think was possible. Maybe it's just a trick of my mind or something, but to me - if my teeth feel better and look better then it must be so. The old "if it looks like a duck" adage I suppose. I should point out that I have also cut down my soda's and sugars to a large degree which has likely done a large amount of that work. But I wouldn't have done that if I didn't have a starting place for oral healthcare that I felt was "an actual starting point" in the sense that I felt like if I followed it I'd see progress. With fluoride toothpaste before, when I was consistent, I continued to have cavities and sensitivity. That is now a thing of the past it seems thankfully.
Anyways - I truly believe that nHA toothpaste has single-handedly saved my oral health. If you ever have issues with fluoride or suspect that you might be having an issue with it (or you just want something to kick your laziness) I highly recommend giving nHA toothpaste a shot. It does NOT solve EVERY problem and, no, it is not going to make your mouth a supermodel in a few months. Changes take time - especially with teeth (as I've had to learn the hard way). Take care of em'! If that's nHA toothpaste, or flourish or whatever - more power. I can vouch for it's strength though.
Thank you for taking the time to share your journey! Glad you figured out a system that works for you, and glad the toothpaste helped your teeth!
So after brushing , you swallow the nHa toothpaste?
MI paste has really helped me with the translucent edges. The paste has phosphate, calcium, and casein. It is not for brushing, you leave it on over night to help remineralize your teeth. I think they also have a toothpaste but that would probably not be as effective since the point of the paste is to leave it on your teeth for as long as possible. Check it out if you get a chance. Would be nice to hear your feedback on that.
Great update! My experience has been similar. I can’t say I see a difference but I do feel a difference. My teeth are, as you say, slicker. I like that
Thank you for the review! I think the main point here should be the effectiveness of hydroxyapatite in comparison with fluoride. The brand is incidental, except insofar as the formulation affects effectiveness.
You can’t rinse the toothpaste off. You need to brush and after you will feel a mild gritty feeling. You will want to rinse with water but it needs to be left on over night to be the most effective.
Really appreciate the update😊
I'd choose the original Apagard than the generic toothpaste. The amount of Hydroxyapatite and the size of the particle are the most important factors. As they say, Japanese products should be better than American.
Oh I didn’t know that, makes sense! I did hear however someone mentioned before that they tried to get apagard and got a knockoff that wasn’t the real thing. Hard to order something online/internationally when you don’t know what the real thing looks/tastes like..
@@askahygienist they changed the formula in 2003, it is now much better. Premio has 1.4 more and Royal ecen 2x nore MHAP.
The difficulty you're having is because your camera was an auto mode it will change the contrast automatically. You need to set it to manual and have it set in the same settings before and after to see the true difference
My teeth never felt so smooth for so long after using this toothpaste. Also like the cherry blossom flavor.
🦷 I oilpull with teatree and coconut then swish with alkaline water and peppermint before the brush. I don't rinse and lastly apply a tiny amount paste onto teeth like I would a whitening gel and leave it. No rinse. 😁
Yea the b & a looks very similar. It is a nano-sized based effect so it will be hard to see with the naked eye but the structure and density do look better!
I appreciate your review! Interested to try the Boka toothpaste. I just purchased this product as I read that fluoride isn't ideal for low thyroid or hashimotos which I was more recently diagnosed with. However, the more readily available fluoride free toothpastes don't have anything in there to protect or remineralize. I was suggested to try this almost more as a treatment to get the same kind of effect as a fluoride toothpaste without the negative effects for my thyroid condition. We shall see!
I’m using David’s hydroxyapatite toothpaste now; my husband really likes it. And researching Dr. Jen’s toothpaste as well, another option.
Very informative series. Sharing this channel with my daughters to inspire them to take great care of their teeth! 🦷
I've started using elims. they give the % hydroxyapatite that they use, which I've noticed none of the other brands do! I'm liking it so far but idk if I've seen any difference
Boka has 10% nano-hydroxyapatite too and they are better than elims (already used elims)
@@עדיאור-ע9ג I just asked boka and they only contain 2%
@@עדיאור-ע9ג Boka has 2%
I have used it for a month and a half and the difference is huge. Then again, my teeth were a little messed up. Sore spots are gone and sensitivity is gone. I can drink ice water now like nobody’s business. My teeth also just look nicer and whiter.
Isn't it awesome? So happy with the results! no more sensitivity
I have started using this. I find it addictive. I use it several times a day.
Where Boka or David’s fits in is the situation I’m in right now. My dentist gave me a high Fluoride prescription toothpaste, Prevident. He wanted a fluoride free toothpaste as my first brush so I’m not overloaded in fluoride, but he did want a nano hydroxyapatite as my first brushing. So, to repair strengthen my enamel, he has me brushing with David’ first, then I re-brush with the prescription Prevident. He even wants me to thin coat my teeth and let sit for a long time at least a couple of times a week.
Sounds like your dentist cares :) I would actually recommend Dr. Jen’s as your hydroxyapatite toothpaste. It has a higher percentage of hydroxyapatite. They also have a Super Paste option which combines hydroxyapatite and fluoride; it has shown to provide better results than prevident. I’ll be doing a full review on their toothpaste soon, but you should check out their website!
Would love to see you do a 6mo trial of MI paste. I know it's not toothpaste, but I'm curious if it really helps rebuild enamel.
Based on the technology in mi paste it should be less effective than hydroxyapatite. However it may benifit when it stays on the teeth longer than brushing.
🦷 I’d be nervous to give up fluoride entirely but I’m curious to try this too. 🦷
Use them together😊
We tried Boka before but it was no where near as good as using the Japanese version. With Boka my teeth were still very sensitive and hurt at times. After a few days of switching to Apagard Premio the sensitivity totally went away.
Ok I keep hearing about apagard, I need to get my hands on it.
@@askahygienistI think it has SLS though so less natural but not an issue for most
@@alienhive2947 thanks I totally missed that! currently trying out David's brand, no SLS. stay tuned for a review :)
Oh, have you looked into any of the CariFree products? One of their products is a blend of fluoride and hydroxyapatite. There's also a fluoride-free version. Plus, they have rinses, kits, and other products.
Haven’t heard of this brand! Good to know, thanks :)
@@askahygienist Novamin is also like that, just from simple Sensodyne.
@lolerie that's what I buy from UK Amazon since it's banned in America and Canada Amazon bans shipping that toothpaste to the US. Shipping is expensive from the UK
What i noticed is i have less plaque and tongue coating in the morning while using it. I also i had some beginning tooth pain and it went away. 🤔
Glycerine coats the teeth and will prevent remineralization . This brand ( and most other toothpastes)
Contains glycerine.
I have heard/read about this. I have yet to find actual controlled studies to show this as fact, though. I’m still looking into it.
What is your diet like though? Are you getting vitamin K2?
That’s a good question! Not sure about the vitamin K…
Do you rinse out after you brush with the boka toothpaste? Try leaving it as is states on the tube. Or try crest densify for a month like it states and try a before and after photo.
I do rinse out after brushing to get out all the plaque I just brushed off, but then reapply some fresh toothpaste on clean teeth overnight.
Thank you for this video! I see a slight difference in the positive sense.
What about a toothpaste like carifree which has hydroxyapatite and fluoride in it? I’m assuming this wouldn’t be safe to apply on teeth and letting it sit overnight because then you’d be swallowing fluoride
Assuming you wouldn’t be applying a huge amount, it’s technically deemed “safe” to apply overnight at least in the US. At the end of the day though, it is known to be toxic in higher doses; I personally try to limit my exposure to fluoride.
I appreciate your honest assessment with Boka. I just ordered a tube during Black Friday and will try it out for myself. Other than aesthetics, do you find your teeth more immune to sensitivity since Boka? I'm also trying bentonite clay as an alternative for remineralizing.
P.S I was looking for a good toothbrush for sensitive gums a while back and decided to go with Nimbus when I came upon your review - it's been a few months and I love the brush so thank you for recommending it!
Unfortunately I did not experience any relief from sensitivity with the boka toothpaste. I ended up using a desensitizing agent to cover the exposed dentin areas that worked immediately.
@askahygienist what desensitizing agent cause my friend only brushes his teeth once a day cause it hurts him that much to brush and I'm wondering if I should try boka for him before I get a desensitized agent or just get the agent
@@andrguts52 your friend should go to the dentist to see why it hurts just to brush teeth. It can be an issue with the gums, or something significant with the teeth. Brushing generally should hurt if you are doing it right with a soft brush.
@@askahygienist well I didn't mention that he hasn't exactly taken very good care of his teeth
@@andrguts52 if it’s hurting with just normal brushing your friend should go to the dentist and get teeth/gums looked at. There can be a lot of other factors at play.
I'm glad you told the tooth and nothing but the tooth.
😆🦷✅
Enjoyed the update. I have to agree that strength of the teeth is a great detector on if it truly works. 🦷
Hey Nikki, congrats you’re the winner! 🎉 email me to claim your prize :) kristina.askahygienist@gmail.com
@@askahygienist what did she win?
don’t rinse with water after brushing!!! it defeats the purpose. that’s probably why you don’t notice a huge difference - it can’t rebuild much if you only rub it in for a minute and immediately wash it all away! lol. just spit it out. you get used to it.
I mention this often but I don’t like to leave in all the nasty plaque that I just brushed off without rinsing. I rinse out and then go back in with fresh toothpaste and rub it all over my teeth and leave it overnight. I didn’t do it every night but still.
It's not good to ingest though
I rinsed as usual but I brush my teeth at least for 2 minutes. The cracks on my two front teeth healed completely after two years of using hydroxyapatite toothpaste .
I see quite good results from your pics, i thouth you would be more excited about it lol 🦷
Started using Boka after my dentist suggested it as an alternative to Sensodyne. Biggest difference between conventional fluoride toothpastes is getting used to spitting and not rinsing after brushing. (Which requires you floss _before_ brushing, not after.) The entire efficacy of nHa toothpastes is based on not rinsing after application, so don't bother with the nano toothpastes unless you are willing to change your rinsing habit.
Noticed an improvement in sensitivity after only a week of use. At four weeks of use, my teeth felt as resistant to cold and ice water as they did when I was a teenager. I only wish I had started using a nHa product several years ago when hypersensitivity first started developing.
I am convinced any nHa toothpaste or tablets will produce the same result, so interpret this comment as a vote for nHa rather than any specific brand (although the Boka Ela-Mint flavor is delightful).
Weeks prior to starting Boka, I couldn't comfortably tolerate ice water. I was shocked that my enamel could have been restored from this product alone (and a healthy remineralizing diet and routine), but it has. The surfaces of my teeth enamel now feel like glass, and cold winter air is no longer a problem.
I have used conventional low-abrasive anti-cavity fluoride toothpaste for decades. As far as it goes, they were effective, until they weren't, several years ago. When I first experienced sensitivity, I also tried spitting the fluoride pastes out instead of rinsing. Initially, I felt some improvement in surface hardness, but little-to-no effect on sensitivity. Actually, the failure of this technique to improve sensitivity provoked me to seek an alternative to my usual fluoride brands, Aim and Colgate Regular.
My dentist emphasized that fluoride toothpastes don't penetrate the enamel through the tubule matrix, so they only provide protection on the outermost enamel layer. Protection which only lasts 1-2 weeks if you stop brushing with fluoride. In contrast, nHa, when applied according to the toothpaste directions, enters and occludes tubules in the enamel that directly exposed to nerves on the dentin-enamel junction, so enamel repairs feel like they are occurring at a much deeper level.
By the same reasoning, you might expect the nHa particles to begin a repair process wherever defects are adjunct to the tubule network. Without question, something is going on, as I've noticed a reduction in visibility of enamel striations after just 3 months use. I've observed some mild whitening, but the cosmetic whitening results are not overwhelming. The smoothness and hardness of my teeth ridges has improved as well.
Overall, I couldn't be happier with the results, because it feels like a big paradigm shift has occurred away from dentists prescribing Sensodyne. In the US version, the active ingredient is a nerve blocker, rather than something that remineralizes enamel efficiently. I hope it's a matter of time when nHa toothpastes replace fluoride as the standard of care in the US.
Just had a cleaning last week, and explained to the hygienist I had switched from fluoride to nHa. (It was the first time in several years I wasn't jumping out of my seat during the cleaning from sensitivity.) She was mute on the topic, and gave me a Crest sampler following the cleaning.
I felt like I had to go around her to get the nHa recommendation from the dentist instead of the hygienist. I have concluded that fluoride is not efficacious for hypersensitivity caused by decades of wear and enamel-unfriendly foods and beverages.
There is a conspiracy within the ADA to avoid making nHa the standard in dental prevention, or at least co-exist with fluoride. Of course, these nHa toothpastes are all costly, which may be the reason my hygienist don't routinely recommend them in the first place. The only nHa toothpaste I have found on the drugstore shelf is David's, and its formulation is not low-abrasive.
In conclusion, I hope US dentistry starts making nHa the new standard of caries prevention, because without a restrictive diet and snacking, brushing with fluoride has been next to worthless for me, and probably others, and has _not_ prevented sensitivity from developing as it should have.
All great points, thanks for sharing! I feel like some hygienists are hesitant because nhap is relatively new in the US. I do also hope it becomes the standard for caries prevention because of its more lasting effects.
Agrees it doesn’t help to change the color of teeth but certainly does contribute to a more smooth enamel which allows for less staining!
Well if you rinse it off your mouth afterward you won’t really see any results, you should let it sit on your teeth overnight then you may see a huge improvement also the nano in there is only 2% which is a very minimal amount to see the drastic results that you was looking for! Good luck
I didn’t just rinse it off, I would rinse off and then apply a fresh coat on my teeth and put my retainers on overnight 🤷♀️
I'm trying out Risewell but would also like to try boka 🦷
Nice! I give my toddler the Risewell birthday cake flavor :)
I see a slight difference. I’m wondering if it made you teeth sensitive or no change with that.
No particular change with sensitivity. My teeth have several exposed dentin areas, they are still there but not worse.
I had FOUR extreme sensitivity areas and it was gone in a week with Remin toothpaste, 23.00 bucks but I don't care when I have no pain.
Great Oral Health has a toothpaste with Nano-HA. They claim theirs has 6% N-HA compared to 2% in Boka. I haven't been able to find much info on this company's claim. Have you researched them at all?
Sorry I don’t understand. Which company, boka or Great Oral Health?
@@askahygienist Sorry for the confusion. Great Oral Health claims their brand has 6.5% N-HA, as listed in their video description. th-cam.com/video/WSM49WTo4D4/w-d-xo.html
Been using hydroxyapatite for years. Unlike fluoride, don’t rinse! I go to sleep with it in my mouth. Also, they say size of the particles and dosage is important for best results, I use Apagard Premio from Japan, but just because I started using it from Amazon before the US product came out already a decade ago.
In the morning I use fluoride paste to act as a shield for my teeth for the coming day and to cut costs a bit. Several studies on dual use seem to point to it as best strategy.
I’m really liking Dr. Jen’s so far! Particle size and dosage is optimal.
Think of hydroxyapatite and fluoride etc are like putting a thin coat of wax on your car …. It will not regrow your car if it has had a dent in it….. they will slow the future wear and are good preventives and if you have a higher rate of decay I would say yes use something like boca or fluoride toothpaste and then you would have to take bitewings frequently to track lesions progression all of these are very large (macro) test that may show something but remember you are working with microscopic molecules so the effects are probably on the microscopic level again the thickness of wax on a car still useful but not super visible.
I don’t know about the wax coating analogy. I recall in my teens I had several “incipient” cavities visible on bitwing X-rays - basically only into the enamel layer, considered reversible. Over the years I was diligent with my home care routine and diet choices and did NOT use fluoride OR hydroxyapatite products, and all the areas healed, solid white on X-rays.
Fluoride may be more like a wax coating, but hydroxyapatite has been shown to penetrate deeper into the tooth and rebuild enamel on a microscopic level. This is noticeable especially if you have very rough enamel that easily collects stain; I’ve noticed on my own teeth after a couple years of consistent hydroxyapatite use, smoother enamel and less stain.
Do you ever leave the hydroxyapatite toothpaste on your teeth? Like, not rinse it off, right? I kinda wonder if that impacts its effects. Also, maybe 6 months isn't enough to see a difference. I use Boka now, but also regular fluoride toothpaste - and I like it! I am going to keep using Boka!! 🦷
Throughout the experiment I would leave it on overnight about once a week. I would brush, rinse (so I get out all the plaque I just brushed off) and then reapply some toothpaste all over my teeth with my finger and go to sleep with it on.
@@askahygienist what if we swallow the paste, isn't it harmful??
No it's not harmful
Like with flouride, you are supposed to give it about 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything to give it time to do it's thing and soak in. I drink some water a few minutes after sometimes and just kinda try not to swish it all around and it's fine. It definitely does seem to work better if you don't immediately follow it up with another liquid and just wash it all away.
@@misssplendid4035 I have been swallowing Boka toothpaste for 2+ years now. I suppose maybe I might walk in tomorrow and get diagnosed with the most awful thing in the world - but NASA did initially use this stuff with astronauts for help with bone-density - in the form of pills if I recall correctly. Based on that and the science I've dug up on it, I'd say it's safe to swallow.
Hydroxyapatite is the same with Calcium Hidroxyapatite - capsules?
My 2 cents… You can’t fix a lifestyle problem with a mineralizing toothpaste. The change you saw in the first month was probably because you had a slightly different diet. Acid extracts the minerals in your teeth. Coffee, saur kraut, soda drinks, alcohol, etc. I’d start with looking up the Ph of everything you drink. Stop eating and drinking acidic foods and drinks and if you do, immediately drink or wash your mouth with a bit of alkaline water to neutralize the acid. You could also wash up with a home-made baking soda solution or a pure glycerin soap solution. Good luck.
Hmm thanks for the tip. I can’t say my diet has changed much over the months and I always drink water after meals anyway, I’m aware of the need to restore pH :) maybe I’ll give the baking soda a go and monitor changes as well.
Xylitol helps to raise pH (more alkaline). It also helps control plaque. I use it after every meal & snack, & it's been working great for me.
@@maricarol85 I didn’t know it raises pH…I do know too much of it can cause an upset stomach because we can’t digest it :/
@@askahygienist I just use the granules at home (~ 1/8-1/4 tsp). Let it dissolve, swish around mouth, & then just let it sit iny mouth for 2-3 minutes, then spit.
I don't see much result but my teeth are less sensitive in some areas that were sensitive. In like a couple weeks Ive been using it.
Less sensitivity is good 👍
what would you say is the best hydroxyapatite toothpaste? which one would you recommend?
So far I’m actually pretty impressed with Dr. Jen’s hydroxyapatite toothpaste; just did a review on it, will be doing a 1-2 month update!
excited to see the new update! @@askahygienist
i use GC toothmousse , but is ia a very slow process. My teeth gets certainly more white. I always compare it with my white filling. Shallow cavities are most easy, erosion on the edges are very difficult. Sleeping wit your mouth open increase tooth erosion, and using hydroxapetite will not help. I use it mainly for prevention, because i am cavity prone
Hm, i haven’t heard of sleeping with mouth open causing erosion, how do you mean? I know it causes dry mouth which can lead to more plaque buildup…
@@askahygienist plain simpel, your teeth needs saliver to rebuild and mineralize, no saliver no mineralasation. Front teeth are more susceptible than molars , molars are hedden in the bach of your mouth
Oh yeah? That once again just theories. But fact shows that most people got cavity on molars first before front teeth.
I see a huge difference at 2:58 It shows me that they'd be much better if you had been using the product for 10 years it would be a whole different smile.
Control photo set-up, with headrest and camera on tripod, same lighting. Then overlay photos and have program check differences in pixels.
Oh what program?
What you are trying to accomplish happens from within. ADEK vitamins will help. That’s Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K. These are the fat soluble vitamins required to rebuild white healthy teeth.
I take all of those in quality supplements and nothing changed my teeth to be less translucent; I don’t think it’s a vitamin thing.
Just had a question Boka contained Sodium benzoate do you think it’s safe to use given it can become a Carcinogen
So in the grand scheme of things, I’m not overly concerned about that because you are not generally ingesting it. Sodium benzoate has the POTENTIAL to convert to benzene when it is digested. But in theory, I suppose yea, it’s not 100% the cleanest natural toothpaste brand.
Isn't this exactly what we want?! 😅 the same results without the possibility of poisoning ourselves? Unless this stuff could also be toxic in a higher than pea sized swallow?
How come the tips of your lower teeth (mostly) look transparent, is it just discoloration or due to demineralization ? Do you have sensation in those transparent teeth ?
Those teeth are pretty sensitive to cold, yes. They are in fact translucent/transparent, not discolored. I honestly am not sure why that is. It may be because of all the teeth whitening I used to do. I am also suspicious of possible history of acid erosion. Unfortunately I didn’t monitor it over the years, and only noticed it when it was significant.
have you expanded on using other brands of nHAP like, Apagard Premio, Apagard Royal, Carodent, Bioniq, Birorepair or its nHAP with zinc mouthwash?
I have tried Risewell, David’s, Dr. Jen’s, and NOBS tablets. I have bioniq and bio repair but haven’t tried them yet.
Are you sure? I just ordered Boka, Risewell and Davids for a taste test. Boka and Risewell both have sorbitol which, if I remember the information correctly, cause acid in the mouth. The information said xylitol toothpaste only.
Hm, I did check into that and it looks like long-term consumption of sorbitol (actually ingesting, not topical) can cause gut problems and affect pH in mouth. But just topical use as in toothpaste or chewing gum actually stimulates saliva flow to help regain pH balance after eating. In general, all sugar alcohols have an upside and downside
It works great but you can supercharge it by eating xylitol candies or gum every day. It’ll definitely give you the “ drastic “ results you’re after. Plus you get to eat candy all day😂 it’s a win win
I do have xylitol candies haha I forget to eat them! Thanks for the reminder :)
@@askahygienist lol no problem. Believe it or not, over a period of about 6 months, I actually filled in several large cavities I had, just by using the candies or gum, and regular brushing. I’ve also switched my diet to keto so everything I eat is just better overall for oral health. Eliminating sugar or carbs is a huge help.
I appreciate these videos so much, after just now watching your first video on Hydroxyapatite I was gung-ho for it and added some to my Amazon cart, now that I watched this followup, I'm still going to buy it to try but I'm not going to buy five tubes, just one for now ;-)
I don’t use toothpaste just water
i have found my people😁
I have a question about this 2 ingredients on that Toothpaste: the Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate and the Dimethyl Sulfone, are Safe or Healthy ??
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate is a surfactant - what helps the toothpaste foam up/clean the teeth. It’s considered safe. Dimethyl Sulfone or MSM is used to help with inflammation. Generally considered safe/non-irritating although some sources show that larger amounts can be irritating. Overall this isn’t the “cleanest” toothpaste out there; I’ve moved on to other brands since the making of this video.
🦷 also very informative. Thx
Take a look at your bottom gumline before and after. There does seem to be a difference. You need more than 6 months.
I'm just curious, but did you see how your teeth show up in an x-ray after using the Boka toothpaste? From my understanding, your teeth can look fine, but there may be decay that can only be detected with an x-ray.
Last time I took check up X-rays, no decay :)
Weird solution but what about keeping the mineralizing ingredients on your teeth for far longer? Like 10 mins a day? I feel like scrubbing somthing around on your teeth for 2 mins just couldn't possibly do much
Could be worth trying! Definitely works only as long as it’s in contact with teeth so makes sense.
i would imagine that most of the remineralization takes place on the occlusal surfaces of the molars etc, and not the front faces of the incisors.
Why do you suppose that? I guess our spit can pool on the larger occlusal surfaces of molars, but there are saliva glands all over our mouth, I would think saliva touches all our teeth..
@@askahygienist i'm guessing that remineralization would occur more in areas with decay/cavities than areas with wear from mechanical abrasion because in the former case you're reversing chemical decay with a chemical process, but in the latter case you're trying to reverse a mechanical "decay" with a chemical process so it's less harmonized. also the hydroxyapatite in the toothpaste may have an easier time staying inside the crevasses in the occlusal surfaces (like food does), than it does sticking to the faces of the front teeth. now when you used the hydroxyapatite toothpaste, did you rinse after brushing? i wonder if you would get more effect if you don't rinse and let as much of it stay on your teeth as possible. yeah i think i'm going to try that actually. another thing is that most people i've talked to online who have healed cavities with hydroxyapatite have also been supplementing vitamin K2 (Mk-7), which supports mineral utilization throughout the body, as well as vitamin D3. someone recommended me an italian toothpaste called "biorepair" that has hydroxyapatite in it that i have been using, and if that in conjunction with D3 and K2 doesn't heal my cavities i will just get them filled.
Did it change the feeling in the mouth at all thought? Like less pain or cold sensitivity
Not particularly, not that I remember. Maybe slightly.
Hello! Have you ever tried analyzing how your diet affects whether your teeth remineralize properly or not? What are your thoughts on Dr Weston A. Price's theories?
Hm, I started reading his book but didn’t get very far, good reminder! I’ll have to pick it back up and get back to you. For starters diet definitely plays a role
I've heard of Dr. Price back in 2014 and I recently met with a medical dentist who said that certain nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin D3, K2, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, can cause tooth decay despite proper hygiene habits. Dentists tend to tell you to avoid sugar but never really tell you what to add to your diet to help your teeth. I did have deficiencies in most of these and I was using a crappy quality electric toothbrush and floss, so I started supplementing and invested in a better quality toothbrush and floss. So both hygiene and sufficient nutrition are very important for teeth.
@@komfykoala6083 thanks for sharing! Yes, I should do a video on this, a wholistic health approach is vital to oral health, and nutrient deficiencies can definitely be a factor contributing to poor oral health.
@@komfykoala6083 any update? How's your oral health after the supplements ?
@@mind_of_mine Hi there. I haven't had a dental cleaning in 8 months but my teeth feel smooth and no sensitivity. So I'll have to wait till my upcoming dental appointment to really tell the difference. But my vitamin D levels improved i haven't been sick in 9 months.
i'm glad you were honest, but i think you have to follow the user instructions given by boka in order to give a fair review. so, brushing for 2 minutes and letting it sit on the teeth for around 20 mins without rinsing, 2x/day.
Oh thanks for the pointer, I didn’t see those directions on the box or tube when I got it…is that on their website?
Pictures are not enough to go on. What has your dentist noticed, xrays and such. Do your teeth feel different?
Most of these toothpastes only have 3% - 20% Hydroxyapatite. I brush my teeth with 99% pure Hydroxyapatite powder which I buy bulk online.
Hmm 🤔 Bet it’s cheaper, too! Thanks! I’m all over it!
@@deannapatschke-mullally8400 It's quite pricey as I buy it directly from the manufacturer but if you find it cheaper, let me know?
Where do you buy it?
Apparently the optimum level of nHa a toothpaste is supposed to contain is 10%. Anything above is I think no bueno.
Where do you source from? Alibaba?
So is nano hydroxyapatite the same as hydroxyapatite just works better basically?
My understanding is nano is the only size that actually works. Micro is too big to get into the enamel “pores” and do what it needs to do.
The real issue is that these commercial nhap toothpastes don’t really contain enough nor do they contain small enough particles of nhap to get the full benefit
True story! I’m currently using Dr. Jen’s which has the right percentage and particle size. I’m liking the results!
Do you have an opinion on the NOBS nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste tablets?
I’ve tried toothpaste tabs before and my biggest complaint was with the texture, felt slimy. I didn’t have that problem with the NOBS brand. I can’t speak to the efficacy because I didn’t use them for very long..
Hi, by the pictures it’s a bit misleading and can’t see much of a difference. Have you tried the brand Regenerate? Toothpaste, foaming mouthwash and treatment serum. I would love to see your take on it.
I’ve never heard of Regenerate, I’ll have to look into it thanks!
This or fluoride?
I can see a difference your teeth look less translucent especially the two front teeth
Does if help with cavities? The hydroxy ingredient?
Yes it’s supposed to help remineralize enamel.
It is supposed to prevent any further decay
Dr. Jen toothpaste uses hydroxyapatite, it's really good, and Tom's of Maine does as well, the rapid sensitive teeth relief formula. And I think there are many others. Now. My question is, is there any advantage to using both fluoride and hydroxyapatite together? And are there any toothpastes on the market that combine the two? Thanks.
There are a few that combine the two. I know Ollie brand has a toothpaste like that. I personally don’t care for fluoride, I feel like we have enough in our water where I’m at. Since hydroxyapatite achieves the same thing fluoride does, I don’t really see a need to do both. At the end of the day it’s up to you :)
i actually cant see any difference but i would like to try it 🦷
Well, it is not Apagard premio, is it... I bought that one, cause they were first. There is also Novamin formula that has both nano-MHAP and fluoridine.
Btw carwashes always have prewash, why it is not rec. With teeth, for sure you get them cleaner when you first get rid of the breadcrums(?)
If you just ate, sure you can rinse first but if it’s been a while, the bacteria in your mouth has digested your food and excreted an acid that forms plaque on your teeth. It sticks to the teeth with a very adherent biofilm layer so the only way to get it off is manually wiping it away with floss between the teeth and brush on the visible surfaces/under the gums. At that point rinsing won’t do much.
I mean brush the teeth twice in row, prewash, not just rinse.@@askahygienist
How much hypoxy thing should be in a toothpaste miss? Like the percentage. Is 3% enough?
Sorry I don’t have a specific percentage, I can’t find an exact number
@@askahygienist 😊 I see. I'll just try this specific paste for a few months and see if it is working.
@@heavenlypot it is a secret.
10%
Nothing happening. I use Dr George's whitening gel. It works like a charm. Very strong whitening power.
Try David’s nano-hydroxyapatite brand. Much cheaper than Bona and larger size. Greatly helps with sensitivity too.
Been hearing a lot about it lately! Gonna order and try some now!
Boka toothpaste is too expensive, does Biorepair recommend it? I am so scared of the effects of fluoride on my body that I have to choose hydroxyapatite toothpaste
I didn’t like how long it took for me to see results with Boka. Biorepair is their own brand, I doubt they would “recommend” another brand..
@@askahygienist Biorepair is an Italian company, and Boka is an American company. They are different.