Theodent Toothpaste

What Is Theodent Toothpaste?

Theodent is a revolutionary toothpaste that uses an extract of chocolate instead of fluoride to strengthen teeth enamel and protect against decay and tooth sensitivity. The Rennou™ technology behind the Theodent toothpaste is the result of a research collaboration between Arman Sadeghpourin Ph.D. and Dr. Tetsuo Nakamoto DDS, Ph.D. The origin of the idea to use a cocoa extract as part of a formulation to protect teeth came about by pure accident during research on the effects of caffeine on developing teeth. It was the chance discovery that a molecule found in cocoa had positive effects on teeth enamel that led to the eventual launch of Theodent toothpaste in January 2012. Theodent is marketed by Theodent LLC is a New Orleans based biotechnology company that was founded by Arman Sadeghpourin  Ph.D. Dr. Tetsuo Nakamoto DDS, Ph.D. At the moment Theodent offer 3 different kinds of toothpaste –

• THEODENT 300
• THEODENT KIDS
• THEODENT CLASSIC

How does Theodent work?

All of Theodent’s toothpaste products are based on their patented Rennou™ ingredient. Rennou™ contains the chemical compound theobromine which is a natural plant alkaloid derived from the cocoa bean. Most of us will have tasted theobromine in the form of chocolate, in fact, it is thought that theobromine is largely responsible for the pleasurable, warm feeling we get when we eat chocolate. In order to appreciate how Theodent works, it is important to know a little bit about the structure of the teeth and understand how tooth decay and tooth sensitivity develop.

A healthy tooth will have a strong layer of enamel protecting the more delicate and sensitive dentin and pulp layers underneath. Although enamel is the hardest part of the body, this does not mean that teeth are indestructible and everlasting! In fact, the outer enamel of a tooth is a very delicate matrix of minerals that can be quickly dissolved and damaged. The enamel on the outside of our teeth is constantly changing in hardness and strength throughout the day in what is known as the demineralization and remineralization process.

Teeth demineralization and remineralization.

Our teeth are under attack day and night from a combination of the acids and carbohydrates that we eat and the organic acids produced by bacterial plaque. When acid comes in contact with teeth, calcium and phosphate are dissolved from the enamel surface and the teeth become softer and weaker. If this demineralization process was allowed to carry on unchecked, our teeth would become damaged and decayed very quickly! Thankfully the saliva that we produce in our mouth can dilute and neutralize the acid and halt demineralization before any damage is done. Saliva is rich in calcium and phosphate ions and as it bathes our teeth it naturally replaces the lost minerals and returns the enamel to its full strength. A healthy mouth at rest should have a pH reading of between 6.7 – 7.3. At a pH of around 7, there will not be any loss of minerals from the enamel and there should be minimal plaque growth. However, if the pH falls to 5.5 or lower there will be a release of calcium and phosphorus ions from the enamel surface and the teeth will become weaker.   In order to keep the teeth strong and healthy it is important that the demineralization and remineralization process remains perfectly balanced. If this natural process is disrupted and minerals are lost quicker than they are replaced the teeth will become soft and vulnerable to decay. There are many reasons why the natural balance of the mouth is upset and teeth demineralize quicker than they can be repaired –

• Poor oral hygiene – The bacteria that are present in plaque feeds off of the carbohydrates and sugars that we eat and then excretes organic acid onto the teeth surface. The acid then begins to strip away the minerals from the enamel and weaken the teeth. If the plaque biofilm is not removed properly by toothbrushing and flossing, the healing properties of saliva may not be sufficient to remineralize and repair the teeth and decay will begin. To keep the teeth free of plaque it is recommended to brush the teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day.
• Poor diet – Certain foods can contribute and increase the demineralization process. Any foods that are high in refined sugar and carbohydrates will react with bacteria to form the organic acid that dissolves away the minerals from the enamel surface. Eating these kinds of foods multiple times a day can cause tthe oral cavity to become almost permanently acidic to the point where the teeth aren’t remineralized fast enough to prevent tooth decay. After eating a sugary snack or beverage, it takes about 30 minutes for saliva to return the mouth to a healthy environment for teeth. However, if more snacks like sweets or soft drinks are consumed in the meantime, the mouth can’t return to a neutral state where minerals can be replaced into the tooth enamel.
• Dry mouth – It is impossible for the oral cavity to remain healthy and balanced when the mouth is dry of saliva. Low saliva production can cause rapid tooth decay, mouth infections, and bad breath. Without an ample supply of saliva, it is likely that the teeth will demineralize quickly especially if combined with a diet of sugary snacks and drinks. A dry mouth can be caused by the following – diseases of the salivary glands, a side effect of many medicines, stress, diabetes, hormonal changes, anorexia and mouth breathing.
• Acid Reflux – People who suffer from acid reflux have a higher risk of experiencing relentless enamel demineralization and tooth decay. Acid reflux occurs when gastric acid travels up the esophagus ending in the mouth.

So How Does Theodent Actually Work?

Just to recap on what we have learned so far –

• Teeth enamel protects the more delicate dentin and pulp layers.
• Teeth enamel is made up of 96% calcium phosphate hydroxyapatite.
• Teeth are in a constant flux between demineralization and remineralization.
• When the mouth becomes acidic i.e. pH 5.5 and lower, the demineralization process begins and calcium phosphate is dissolved from the enamel making it softer and weaker.
• When saliva neutralizes the acid and returns the mouth to a balanced PH, remineralization takes place and calcium phosphate is returned to the teeth to return them to their former strength.
• If the natural balance of the mouth is disrupted, teeth can demineralize quicker than they can be repaired by the remineralization process, the enamel will get progressively weaker and thinner.
• Demineralization of teeth can be caused by poor diet, poor oral hygiene and low levels of saliva.
• When enamel wears away the teeth become sensitive and susceptible to decay.

Keeping teeth healthy and strong is very simple in theory but can be very difficult for many people in practice. All you have to do theoretically is ensure that the remineralization process is allowed to function properly so the teeth enamel are not allowed to get progressively softer and weaker. This can generally be achieved by the following steps –

• Eat a healthy balanced diet that contains minimal refined sugars.
• Avoid Highly acidic beverages.
• Clean all surfaces of each tooth thoroughly twice a day by toothbrushing and flossing.
• Clean your tongue every day with a tongue scraper.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Chew on Xylitol gum to stimulate saliva flow.
• Don’t smoke.
• Don’t drink alcohol.
• Avoid anything that can cause dry mouth; e.g. medications, stress and breathing through your mouth.

Unfortunately, in practice, it can be difficult, if not impossible to follow all the above steps. Most of us like to eat foods and drink beverages that are not particularly good for our teeth. Modern day living often comes with stresses and strains that deplete our energy and time, focusing on attaining the perfect level of oral health is usually not particularly high on our list of priorities. And illnesses are a part of life and they need to be treated with medicines that can, on occasions cause dry mouth. As a result of all the stresses and strains on our teeth, most of us have had to rely on the therapeutic benefits of fluoride to keep our teeth healthy and strong. Although fluoride has become somewhat controversial, clinical trials dating back over 50 years clearly show that it plays an important role in keeping the demineralization-remineralization process in favor of remineralization. If fluoride is present during the remineralization process it is actually incorporated into the enamel as calcium fluorapatite which actually leaves the teeth stronger and more resistant to decay. Fluorapatite is chemically more stable than hydroxyapatite and can withstand a pH of 4.5 before minerals are dissolved as opposed to pH 5.5 in the case of hydroxyapatite. Although it is generally accepted that fluoride does have a positive effect on teeth enamel it is also clear that there are many disadvantages and potential dangers connected with its use. Some of the most controversial aspects of using fluoride as a therapeutic agent to control tooth decay include:

• Fluoride can be highly toxic if ingested or absorbed in high enough levels.
• It is possible to be exposed to fluoride from many sources including; drinking water, food, beverages and dental health products. It is possible for some people to be overexposed to fluoride without them actually knowing it.
• Fluoride is known to cause a staining effect on the teeth called fluorosis.
• Early research suggests a possible link between overexposure to fluoride and mental health disorders.
• There are suggestions that children who have been exposed to fluoride may exhibit lower IQ levels.
• Accumulation of fluoride can cause Skeletal fluorosis which is a weakening of the bones.
• There is some mixed evidence to suggest that although fluoride can increase bone density it can also directly contribute to an increased risk of bone fractures.
• People with weak kidney function are more vulnerable to over exposure because their kidneys are unable to excrete fluoride efficiently.
• Early research is linking fluoride to diabetes.
• Clinical studies on animals have shown a link between high fluoride levels and decreased fertility in males.

As beneficial as fluoride may be to teeth enamel there are obviously some very real concerns regarding the detrimental effects it can cause to the human body. In terms of increasing enamel strength and resilience, there has never been a viable alternative to fluoride up until now, and that is where Theodent comes in. Theodent is a fluoride free toothpaste that uses an ingredient called theobromine as a therapeutic agent to strengthen teeth.

What is theobromine?

Theobromine is a naturally occurring plant alkaloid that is mostly sourced from the cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao). The cocoa tree is native to the tropical regions of South America but it is now also heavily cultivated in Africa and Asia to harvest the valuable seeds (usually called cocoa beans) from inside the fruit of the tree. Cocoa beans are used to produce a wide range of products like cocoa powder, chocolate, confectionary, and flavorings. When cocoa beans are processed, the 1% theobromine contained in the beans becomes an important part of the makeup of chocolate and cocoa powder. The idea of using theobromine to strengthen teeth came about by pure accident. During the process of researching the effects of caffeine on developing teeth, it was found that exposing tooth enamel to caffeine resulted in the formation of smaller hydroxyapatite crystals. Since hydroxyapatite is the main component of enamel the reduction of crystal size resulted in a quicker rate of demineralization when the enamel was exposed to acid. The research concluded that caffeine did indeed have a negative effect on teeth, but in doing so, it was also discovered that the almost identical theobromine molecule had the exact opposite effect. Rather than causing the reduction of hydroxyapatite crystals, theobromine actually increased the size of the hydroxyapatite crystals.

Theobromine’s effect on teeth

Although caffeine and theobromine are very similar, it is the slight difference in molecular structure that is responsible for the contrasting effect on tooth enamel. Caffeine causes a reduction in hydroxyapatite crystal size which makes the teeth weaker and more prone to decay and sensitivity, whereas, theobromine bolsters the hydroxyapatite crystals making them bigger, stronger and more resistant to decay and sensitivity. Clinical trials have shown that teeth enamel that is exposed to theobromine during remineralization will produce hydroxyapatite crystals 4 times their normal size. It is the formation of these larger hydroxyapatite crystals that is the key to reducing enamel demineralization because the larger the crystal size, the slower it will dissolve. The successful research led to the theobromine extract being patented under the name Rennou.™ See Dr. Tetsuo Nakamoto talk about Theodent and theobromine here.

Theodent Toothpaste and cavity prevention

Theodent toothpaste represents the first real therapeutic innovation since the introduction of fluoride many years ago. By inducing an increase in mineral deposits and enlarging the size of the hydroxyapatite crystals, Theodent can help teeth resist both dental caries (tooth decay) caused by bacterial acids and enamel erosion caused by dietary acids. The increased mineral density, size, and strength of the remineralized hydroxyapatite crystals is key to the therapeutic value of Theodent because the larger the hydroxyapatite crystals size is, the more difficult it is for acids to dissolve them.

Theodent toothpaste and sensitive teeth

Theodent can be considered to be a 2-in-1 dual action toothpaste that is effective at preventing tooth decay as well as preventing and treating sensitive teeth. Tooth sensitivity is an increasingly common condition that becomes noticeable with occasional or prolonged short, sharp painful sensations in the teeth. As we saw in tooth anatomy, each tooth is made up of four major parts – enamel, cementum, dentin, and pulp. The dentin layer is usually covered and protected by enamel on the crown and cementum on the root. if this protection is worn away and the dentin is exposed it is likely that some level of sensitivity will be experienced. The dentin layer has a large number of microtubes (dentinal tubules) that diverge outwards from the pulp to the surface of the dentin. If these tubules are exposed because the protective enamel has been eroded away then the sensitive pulp can be disturbed by external stimuli such as cold air, hot and cold foods and beverages, sweets and teeth whitening procedures. To see research date click here.

Theodent toothpaste has been proven to be exceptionally quick to relieve the painful symptoms associated with sensitive teeth. As we have seen, if Theodent is exposed to the teeth during the demineralization – remineralization cycle it acts as an enabler to create larger than normal hydroxyapatite crystals. In the case of sensitive teeth, these large crystals effectively block off the open dentin tubules and prevent the teeth nerves being disturbed. As seen above, after one week, 100% of the dentinal tubules have been covered up after using Theodent. In comparison, only about 80% of the tubules have been closed after using Sensodyne 5000. In fact, in the case of Theodent, 100% of the tubules were occluded after only 3 days.

Theodent toothpaste v Fluoride toothpaste

Theodent has been clinically proven to have superior therapeutic properties compared to regular fluoride-based toothpaste. Its ability to harden enamel and resist acid attack makes it the first really viable option for consumers who are used to using fluoride toothpaste. For people who suffer from sensitive teeth, Theodent also offers quick acting relief that out performs other high-end toothpaste. The big advantage of using Theodent is that it does not have any of the negative health concerns associated with fluoride. The use of fluoride in toothpaste has always been controversial but recent years has seen growing evidence that it may be linked to mental health disorders, low IQ in children, autism, bone disease, diabetes, kidney problems and hyperthyroidism. It is clear that in small concentrations, fluoride is beneficial to teeth but in many people’s opinion, the potential hazards outweigh the benefits. In recent years, many consumers are turning to fluoride free toothpaste simply because they are concerned about the potential side effects. For people who are at risk of dental decay because of dietary, poor cleaning routines or health reasons, choosing a fluoride free toothpaste may not be the best choice for the health of their teeth. Theodent offers a fluoride-free alternative that has all the therapeutic benefits without the toxicity. By contrast to fluoride, Theobromine (the proprietary active ingredient in Theodent) does not present any health risks or side effects for humans although it should be noted that products containing theobromine such as chocolate are toxic to domestic animals such as cats and dogs. Animals are slow to metabolize theobromine compared to humans so even a relatively small amount of chocolate can be fatal to a cat or dog. By comparison, a human would need to eat around 85 one ounce bars of chocolate to achieve the same result. Theobromine also has some complex characteristics that make it medically useful for widening arteries and lowering blood pressure, treating coughs and as a mild mood stimulant.

What are the Theodent Products?

The three toothpaste products on offer from Theodent are all very similar with regard to the ingredients used to produce them. The only difference between them is the strength of the proprietary ingredient Rennou™ and the flavorings.  

What is the difference between the Theodent products?

Quick FAQ