Designs for HealthPerioBiotic Silver Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste - Fluoride Free Toothpaste with Oral Probiotics with Whitening Hydroxyapatite - Supports Gum Health & Remineralization (4oz Mint)

This is a 5-star review of Designs for Health PerioBiotic Silver.I really like how this toothpaste is making my teeth feel. It does seem to build over time, rather than just wearing off, and it does gradually reduce sensitivity. I love the texture it gives my teeth. It took a couple days use before I noticed it reducing sensitivity.I write this review having used this product for a few days [update below]. I have previously used Dr Collins mineralizing toothpastes for many years (the older Novamin, and the newer Biomin). You can see my review for those at the Biomin product. Basically I find they did help to protect and desensitize teeth, but the newer Biomin coating wears off quickly, and I didn't like the PEG and other chemicals in them. While Dr Collins Biomin gives them a temporary glassy texture, this toothpaste gives a more natural feeling enamel.Another reviewer said this does not contain nano-sized hydroxyapatite. I'm not so sure. A review from its launch in 2023 says "PerioBiotic Silver boasts a distinctive formula that includes several key components, such as Kalident, nano-hydroxyapatite, silver, ..." The manufacturer doesn't specify particle size, and doesn't list Kalident. I'm not terribly concerned on this issue, but just noting it may be nano.It seems this toothpaste uses KALIDENT-Calcium Hydroxyapatite. The 2013 Rev 2 fact sheet on this ingredient says "two-figure micrometer size". The fact sheet is a good read. It describes how saliva naturally contains phosphate and calcium ions, which combine to rebuild enamel (which is mostly made of calcium hydroxyapatite). Biomin toothpaste, for example, breaks down into calcium and phosphate ions to deposit hydroxyapatite in a glass-like way. The KALIDENT and nano-hydroxyapatite in Designs for Health PerioBiotic Silver instead delivers micro- and/or nano-sized calcium hydroxyapatite to bond to and rebuild the enamel.KALIDENT/hydroxyapatite appears superior to toxic fluoride! Fluoride toothpastes do not contain calcium and phosphate. Fluoride toothpastes "are not true remineralising substances by themselves, but promote teeth remineralisation by salivary calcium phosphate, by creating a new substance, fluorapatite, on the tooth surface. Fluorides tend to form a coating on the surface of the enamel, in contrast to Hydroxyapatite, which tends to restore subsurface lesions from the deeper part of the lesion first. This deep restorative effect has been enhanced [in KALIDENT] by the reduction of the Hydroxyapatite particle size to two-figure micrometer size, facilitating their deeper penetration into the enamel."So long story short, this toothpaste is not only healthier, but more effective than a fluoride toothpaste, and provides true remineralization. I can feel it. It makes my enamel feel brand-new!At first I found the Xylitol aftertaste unpleasant, not my favorite, but after a few days it doesn't bother me anymore. I might try the lemon next. I don't know why they put Xylitol in it at all, seems unnecessary. Tastes like artificial sweetener, even though it's actually not.It lightly foams and cleans the mouth well. One can use a very small amount, but I actually got better coating results by using a more generous half-inch, thin bead of it. Brushing several times a day improves the coating. I recommend full flossing and brushing before bed, brushing again in the morning, and maybe once mid-day.Especially to get the most out of any mineralizing toothpaste, I do recommend flossing and brushing well. If like me regular floss gives you problems, you might try Glide. I don't like the chemicals in the wax on Glide, so I scrape most of it off with my fingernail before using. Besides, I don't want wax covering the enamel, I want the toothpaste to get to it. But otherwise it slides well and doesn't catch.For brushing, I like Dr Collins Perio toothbrushes. They let me angle the brush precisely and reach more deeply without being rough on gums. It's a nice gentle brush that works well with this toothpaste. Replace these brushes every 2-3 months for top performance, even if they don't look worn.It's important to use different angles and motions when brushing, get under the edge of crowns, etc. If the tooth isn't brushed or flossed, the toothpaste won't do its job. Scan your teeth with your fingernail after brushing to see if it comes away with plaque on it, and feel with your tongue. Note any areas you're missing - that's where cavities and decay will occur. Be sure to brush along and down into gumlines, which massages the gum a little too.After brushing, I vigorously swish the toothpaste in my mouth for about 20 minutes before spitting it out. This helps coat the teeth, and helps clean between the teeth. Then I spit it out. I don't rinse. Since this toothpaste has more natural ingredients, I feel more comfortable keeping it in my mouth for an extended time. A dentist told me to swish it like this - it gives it more time to form a coating, and the swishing acts like a waterpick between the teeth.I like that this toothpaste helps maintain the microbiome, and the silver is a nice idea. Seems like a well thought out list of ingredients. Fluoride-free is a must. I was told that regular brushing won't remove biofilm (a slimy bacterial precursor to plaque). So I sometimes use a sonic electric toothbrush for that (Sonicare is often recommended for its sweeping motion). I think a combination of manual and electric brushing helps for more thorough cleaning. Hopefully the ingredients in this toothpaste also helps with that bacteria.I also recommend getting a good quality water filter, like a Berkey, and drinking water regularly. This helps clean the teeth too, as opposed to soda or juices. If your water is acidic (bitter), it may help your enamel if you add just a tiny bit of aluminum-free baking soda to it (eg Red Mills). If you don't usually enjoy drinking plain water, you may find you enjoy it more with a good quality filter. It's healthier for many reasons.Some of us just have weaker, softer enamel, supposedly connected with how we develop in the first trimester before birth. So these are some strategies that I have found which help reduce decay and cavities. Other people hardly brush their teeth at all and get away with a lot more. It took me years to learn how to care for my teeth better, but it is worth it, and these mineralizing toothpastes are vital.Overall I think this is my new favorite toothpaste, for the way it seems to build the enamel, the great feel of the enamel, and the natural ingredients, despite the slightly off taste. If I have anything to add over longer use, I'll update this review, but I can already tell it's working.UPDATEHaving used this toothpaste for a few weeks, I am impressed with how it improves enamel and reduces sensitivity. The effect seems long-lasting. I also sometimes put a little extra toothpaste in my mouth at times and swish it around without brushing, to deepen the coating (in addition to regular brushing). It's quite remarkable, makes teeth feel great.SAFETYI also did some reading on the safety of nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA), which I summarize below based on my opinions from what I read.Overall, nHA has over 40 years of use in toothpastes with a very good health track record. Especially in the last 10-15 years, it has been heavily used in toothpastes. There don't seem to be any bonafide studies or commonly observed results linking it to toxicity (concerns like kidney stone formation, liver damage, cancers, etc.)My impression is that it came under unwarranted attack from the same people who promote the use of fluoride, for the usual reasons. These people are highly motivated to promote ingestion of toxic fluoride at all costs, and thus will attack alternatives. It certainly seems FAR safer than fluoride, which has many known, serious adverse health effects, compared to nHA which has NONE. Yet its use is still relatively new, and safety always deserves further study. Studies in this area seem limited because funding is limited - no massive profit to be made, unlike drug studies.The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety issued its final opinion in March 2023 based on its review of available studies: "Based on the data provided, the SCCS considers hydroxyapatite (nano) safe when used at concentrations up to 10% in toothpaste, and up to 0.465% in mouthwash... This Opinion is not applicable to hydroxyapatite (nano) composed of needle-shaped particles." There was no minority dissenting opinion.While there is still a fair amount of debate over the particulars, the above study cleared nHA safe for toothpastes, and was not able to establish any significant evidence of risk to health.It found that nHA generally does not penetrate the gums or oral mucosa deeply. If swallowed, it tends to dissolve easily in gastric fluid, rendering it safe. Cells exposed to it did not generally mutate, and it did not penetrate the cell nucleus (thus no concerns of DNA damage or cancer).HA is very natural to the body. The nano form is used because it penetrates deeper into the enamel. Some kidney stones are made of HA as a result of diet and other processes, but there doesn't appear to be any evidence linking toothpastes to such formation. I find it unlikely. To reach any level of toxicity to organs, rats had to be fed massive amounts of it (a testing practice I do not support, but those results were discussed).Needle-shaped nHA seems to be more penetrating into tissues, but even with this form, there is no real data of actual toxicity from use.The main consumer challenge with nHA toothpastes is that manufacturers don't provide details on particle size and shape, and aren't required to do so. As I noted in my review above, Designs For Health doesn't specify size or shape. But most toothpastes, especially those emphasizing healthier ingredients, probably use the safer forms. There are several common manufacturers of nHA used in toothpastes, so while not regulated, there are standard practices for the ingredient, and these likely take into account known factors, such as the SCCS opinion.Other ingredients to mention: Xylitol, although it tastes like an artificial sweetener, is just a sugar alcohol made from plants. It is suggested to have dental benefits and is considered safe in foods. A tiny amount in a toothpaste won't matter. Maltodextrin is also plant-based, usually used as a sweetener in foods. I doubt a small amount in a toothpaste has any health impact.My working conclusion: this toothpaste is safe for use, and far safer and more effective than fluoride.

I've been on a look for a good natural fluoride free toothpaste. There's lots of controversy whether or not nano hydroxyapatite has long term harm effect because the nano version is not natural. So I started looking for the non nano version. Here are some I've tried:⭐️BOKA: loved it, great taste, but it's nano⭐️DAVIDS: also nano, great Minty taste⭐️Happy tooth: Non nano version but half of the tube is empty and not Minty enough for me thus not feeling fresh in my mouth⭐️Miltodent: has micro hydroxiapatite (what I ideally would like), great Minty flavor, leaves your mouth fresh BUT big But is made in China! I'm not sure how much I can trust it⭐️SUPER TEETH: Very simple, clean, straightforward ingredients, non nano version, but wasn't refreshing Minty enough for me. Also it doesn't foam if you're looking for some foaming effect, although it is totally unnecessary for the product to be effective.⭐️JUST INGREDIENTS tooth powder: loved the ingredients but using powder is very different, will take some time to get used to. Also not Minty enough for me. Especially if you're used to the regular toothpastes.Then I finally tried Designs for health Prebiotic Silver. It is favorite so far. Here's why:-Non nano hydroxyapatite-Great taste! Leaves your mouth feeling super refreshed.-xylitol is a plus for me as it helps with eliminating the bad bacteria (but some don't like xylitol)- has prebiotics that other toothpastes don't have- has silverCons:- a few dollars pricier but I don't mind paying for a good toothpaste- wonder if they will come up with a micro hydroxyapatite version since I heard it will help with remineralizing more.

I have been using this toothpaste for some time now and it has made a big difference to my oral health. My dental hygienist noticed too how much healthier my gums have been. Very glad to have discovered it.

Seems to reduce inflammation on my gums. I think there really is some silver in there. It tastes pretty good. I use it in combination with a couple other hydroxyapatite toothpastes. I don't know what a couple of the ingredients are supposed to do, I got it looking for hydroxyapatite toothpaste, saw the purified silver in there and thought I'd give it a try. I like everything about it except the texture. It is just a little thin for my taste, more of a gel than a paste. This might be better for your teeth and I'm just used to a thicker, more pasty toothpaste. Other than the thinner texture I like this stuff, and will probably have on hand for if I feel the need for a bit more antibacterial type of toothpaste, just for the silver ingredient.

First week using this product, from the first use I could tell the difference between the other name brands out there. It’s minty and refreshing, leaving my teeth smooth and my breath clean as well. The taste is definitely different, and I wouldn’t worry too much about it. All the healthy ingredients make this product worth the value of your money.

This toothpaste is the best I have ever used. You brush your teeth for only a minute and then spit it out. DO NOT RINSE! Your teeth will feel clean and smooth. I know it is expensive, but you only need to use half the amount on your brush for it to be effective. There is no dangerous fluoride to dull your brain.As an added bonus...you can drink orange juice right after brushing. I love it. I also bought the lozenges to go with it.

This is a good quality tooth paste without toxic ingredients, taste is good and my gums don't bleed with it.

I don’t really like the taste of this toothpaste, it tastes like artificial sweetener to me. It seems to work ok and does not foam too much and it is a more natural toothpaste without the junk so many of them have. I just can’t get over the taste.