• InvertedParallax@lemm.ee
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    3 hours ago

    Hydroxyapatite is basically bone without the last calcium ion, which is calcium apatite

    Hydroxyapatite is present in bones and teeth; bone is made primarily of HA crystals interspersed in a collagen matrix—65 to 70% of the mass of bone is HA. Similarly HA is 70 to 80% of the mass of dentin and enamel in teeth.

    I think you may want to reconsider, it might not be used for calcium absorbtion (that’s via preferential binding and transport pathways in the gut lumen), the apatite is absorbed by the collagen matrix for the outer coating, effectively regenerating the tooth.

    Flouride is a stronger, but worse version of this (strengthing apatite without the Ca++ ion), though both together could theoretically be optimal, I don’t know of any studies looking into this, and we should be wary of making such claims barring evidence.

    • ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net
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      3 hours ago

      I’m not suggesting hydroxyapetite is without merit for dental purposes, it absolutely is useful, and I agree combining it with flouride would likely be optimal (I recall reading a study that seemed to suggest HA can actually remineralize deeper into the tooth than flouride can).

      I was just pointing out that the woman in the article didn’t seem to know what hydroxyapetite is actually used for, despite trying to seem like a source of knowledge.