The science of Huppy

FormulaCa₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ · hydroxyapatite

10% micro-hydroxyapatite. Backed by research.

Hydroxyapatite is the mineral your enamel is made of. Every Huppy toothpaste tablet has 10% micro-hydroxyapatite: the form tested head-to-head against fluoride in randomized clinical trials, with no nanoparticles.

  • 3 randomized trials vs. fluoride
  • 2 used micro-hydroxyapatite
  • 0 nanoparticles
See the researchShop tablets
10% micro-hydroxyapatite. Backed by research.

01 · The mineral

Your enamel is made of it.

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is the main mineral in your teeth. In toothpaste, it's thought to work by filling in microscopic gaps on the enamel surface and supporting your mouth's natural remineralization, all without fluoride.

96%

of your enamel is mineral

And that mineral is mostly hydroxyapatite, a naturally occurring calcium phosphate.

1993

Recognized in Japan

Japan's Ministry of Health recognized hydroxyapatite as an anti-cavity ingredient.

0

Fluoride

Hydroxyapatite gives you a fluoride-free way to care for your enamel.

02 · Mechanism

How hydroxyapatite works.

Hydroxyapatite works with your enamel instead of against it. Here's what researchers think happens each time you brush.

  1. Brush

    Hydroxyapatite meets enamel

    As you brush, hydroxyapatite particles reach the enamel surface, which is made of the same mineral.

  2. Attach

    It settles into micro-gaps

    Particles are thought to attach to the surface and fill tiny gaps and scratches, leaving teeth feeling smoother.

  3. Support

    It supports remineralization

    Hydroxyapatite is a source of calcium and phosphate, the building blocks your enamel uses to repair itself, without fluoride.

Simplified illustration. Mechanisms are based on published laboratory and clinical research on hydroxyapatite.

03 · Micro vs. nano

Micro, not nano.

Hydroxyapatite comes in different particle sizes. Nano-hydroxyapatite is made of particles under 100 nanometers wide. Huppy toothpaste tablets use micro-hydroxyapatite: the same mineral in larger particles, with its own clinical trials behind it.

Nano-hydroxyapatite

Particles 1–100 nanometers wide, the size range that defines a nanomaterial.

Nanomaterial

Huppy micro-hydroxyapatite

Larger particles of the same mineral. Not a nanomaterial.

No nanoparticles

Illustration, not to scale.

  • Same mineral

    Micro and nano hydroxyapatite are the same mineral, Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂. Only the particle size is different.

  • Clinically tested as micro

    Two double-blind randomized trials used microcrystalline hydroxyapatite and found it non-inferior to fluoride, in 207 children and 147 teens.

  • No nanoparticles

    The hydroxyapatite in our toothpaste tablets isn’t a nanomaterial. Nothing to look up, nothing to debate.

  • The full 10%

    Every toothpaste tablet has 10% hydroxyapatite, the concentration used in the clinical trials. Not a sprinkle. (Our mouthwash tablets have 5%.)

Europe’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has assessed certain nano-hydroxyapatite as safe in toothpaste under specific conditions. We chose micro anyway: it has its own clinical record, and it keeps our formula free of nanomaterials.

04 · Clinical evidence

Tested head-to-head with fluoride.

Randomized clinical trials have compared hydroxyapatite toothpaste with fluoride toothpaste in kids, teens and adults. They were designed as non-inferiority trials: does hydroxyapatite protect teeth at least about as well as fluoride? Each time, it did. A 2024 meta-analysis pooled the evidence.

Trials tested hydroxyapatite toothpastes, not Huppy tablets specifically. Huppy toothpaste tablets use 10% micro-hydroxyapatite.

18

studies reviewed

A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis of hydroxyapatite oral care research.

2.51

odds ratio vs. placebo

Hydroxyapatite toothpaste was significantly better than placebo at preventing cavities.

1.1

odds ratio vs. fluoride

No significant difference from fluoride toothpaste.

Trial 1 · Children · 2021 · Micro-HAP

Micro-hydroxyapatite vs. fluoride in kids

In young children, toothpaste with 10% microcrystalline hydroxyapatite was non-inferior to fluoride toothpaste at preventing cavities over one year.

Design
Double-blind randomized controlled trial
Participants
207 children (177 completed)
Duration
336 days (about 1 year)
Test
10% microcrystalline hydroxyapatite
Control
500 ppm fluoride toothpaste
Outcome
New caries progression (ICDAS)

Paszynska E. et al. Scientific Reports, 2021; 11:2650. Read the study

Figure 1

Difference in children with new caries (hydroxyapatite minus fluoride)

Would be inferior No difference Margin 20% One-sided upper 95% limit: 9.8% 9.8% Observed difference: -1.4% -1.4% ← Favors hydroxyapatite Favors fluoride →
Difference in children with new caries (hydroxyapatite minus fluoride)
MeasureValue
Observed difference-1.4%
Upper 95% limit9.8%
Non-inferiority margin20%
The upper 95% confidence limit (9.8%) stayed well below the pre-set 20% non-inferiority margin, so hydroxyapatite was shown to be non-inferior. 72.7% of the hydroxyapatite group and 74.2% of the fluoride group had some caries progression.
Trial 2 · Teens · 2019 · Micro-HAP

Micro-hydroxyapatite vs. fluoride in braces wearers

Teens in orthodontic treatment are at high risk for enamel decay around their brackets. A fluoride-free microcrystalline hydroxyapatite toothpaste was non-inferior to a fluoride toothpaste over six months.

Design
Double-blind randomized multicenter trial
Participants
150 orthodontic patients (147 analyzed)
Duration
168 days (about 6 months)
Test
Fluoride-free microcrystalline hydroxyapatite toothpaste
Control
Amine fluoride / stannous fluoride toothpaste
Outcome
New enamel caries lesions around brackets (ICDAS ≥ 1)

Schlagenhauf U. et al. Journal of Investigative and Clinical Dentistry, 2019; 10:e12399. Read the study

Figure 2

Patients who developed new enamel lesions over 6 months

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%Micro-hydroxyapatite: 54.7% 54.7% Micro-HAP Fluoride: 60.9% 60.9% Fluoride
  • Micro-hydroxyapatite
  • Fluoride
Patients who developed new enamel lesions over 6 months
GroupResult
Micro-hydroxyapatite54.7%
Fluoride60.9%
Per-protocol analysis (133 patients). Lower is better.
Trial 3 · Adults · 2023

Hydroxyapatite vs. 1,450 ppm fluoride

After 18 months, the share of adults with no new decay was nearly identical in both groups. Hydroxyapatite was non-inferior to fluoride.

Design
Double-blind randomized controlled trial
Participants
189 adults (171 completed)
Duration
18 months
Test
10% hydroxyapatite toothpaste
Control
1,450 ppm sodium fluoride toothpaste
Outcome
No increase in DMFS (decayed, missing, filled surfaces)

Paszynska E. et al. Frontiers in Public Health, 2023; 11:1199728. Read the study

Figure 3

Participants with no new decay after 18 months

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%10% hydroxyapatite: 89.3% 89.3% Hydroxyapatite 1,450 ppm fluoride: 87.4% 87.4% Fluoride
  • 10% hydroxyapatite
  • 1,450 ppm fluoride
Participants with no new decay after 18 months
GroupResult
10% hydroxyapatite89.3%
1,450 ppm fluoride87.4%
Per-protocol analysis. Higher is better.

05 · Huppy brushers

What our customers report.

We asked long-term Huppy subscribers how switching changed their routine.

Based on a survey of 272 long-term Huppy customers (averaging 2.9 years of subscription history), May 2026.

99%

brush with Huppy daily

88%

prefer Huppy and wouldn't go back to traditional toothpaste

60%

with sensitive teeth report improved sensitivity after switching

06 · History

From NASA to your sink.

  1. 1970s

    NASA research

    A NASA patent describes using hydroxyapatite crystals to repair tooth enamel.

  2. 1980

    The first HAP toothpaste

    Japan's Sangi launches the world's first hydroxyapatite toothpaste.

  3. 1993

    Recognized in Japan

    Japan's Ministry of Health recognizes hydroxyapatite as an anti-cavity ingredient.

  4. 2019–24

    Clinical trials

    Randomized trials find hydroxyapatite toothpaste non-inferior to fluoride in kids, teens and adults. A 2024 meta-analysis confirms it.

  5. Today

    Huppy

    Toothpaste tablets with 10% micro-hydroxyapatite, plus mouthwash tablets with 5% hydroxyapatite. All plastic-free.

Inside every toothpaste tablet.

Hydroxyapatite does the heavy lifting. The rest keeps your mouth fresh and clean.

10% Hydroxyapatite

10% Hydroxyapatite

The mineral your enamel is made of — 10%, the same amount used in studies. A fluoride-free way to strengthen and whiten teeth.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint Oil

A farm-to-mouth ingredient hand-picked for its refreshing smell and clean finish.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera

A naturally soothing ingredient that calms sensitive gums.

Calcium Carbonate

Calcium Carbonate

A gentle polisher that lifts surface stains and leaves teeth feeling clean.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil

Anti-bacterial and pro-fresh-breath, it keeps your mouth feeling its best.

Zinc Citrate

Zinc Citrate

A trace mineral that supports fresh breath and a clean mouth feel.

Sodium Bicarbonate

Sodium Bicarbonate

Baking soda's smarter cousin. Neutralizes acids and supports a fresh, clean feel.

Xylitol

Xylitol

A natural sweetener that wards off unwelcome bacteria.

FLUORIDE-FREE
VEGAN
CRUELTY-FREE
TSA CARRY-ON FRIENDLY
NO PLASTIC TUBE

Your science questions, answered.

  • How much hydroxyapatite is in Huppy?

    Every Huppy toothpaste tablet contains 10% hydroxyapatite, the same concentration tested in the clinical trials above. Huppy mouthwash tablets contain 5% hydroxyapatite.

  • Is it micro or nano hydroxyapatite?

    Micro. Huppy uses micro-hydroxyapatite, not nano. It’s the same mineral as nano-hydroxyapatite in larger particles, and it’s the form used in two randomized trials that found it non-inferior to fluoride.

  • Is hydroxyapatite as effective as fluoride?

    In randomized clinical trials in children, teens and adults, hydroxyapatite toothpaste was non-inferior to fluoride toothpaste at preventing cavities. A 2024 meta-analysis found no significant difference between the two. Those trials tested toothpaste, not Huppy tablets specifically.

  • Are Huppy toothpaste tablets safe for kids?

    Yes, Huppy toothpaste tablets are safe for the whole family. They are fluoride-free and made with clean ingredients. For children under 3, crush the tablet into a powder and dip a wet toothbrush into it.

  • What does “non-inferior” mean?

    A non-inferiority trial tests whether a new option works at least about as well as the standard one, within a margin set before the study starts. Both trials found hydroxyapatite toothpaste non-inferior to fluoride toothpaste.

  • What are DMFS and ICDAS?

    They are standard ways dentists score cavities. DMFS counts decayed, missing and filled tooth surfaces. ICDAS grades how far a cavity has progressed, from early enamel changes to visible holes.

  • What does ppm fluoride mean?

    Parts per million: how much fluoride a toothpaste contains. Most adult fluoride toothpastes have about 1,000–1,450 ppm. Huppy has 0.

  • Do I still need to see my dentist?

    Yes. Huppy is part of a healthy routine, not a replacement for regular checkups. Talk to your dentist about what’s right for you.

See all FAQs →

Put 10% in your routine.

Toothpaste tablets with 10% micro-hydroxyapatite. No fluoride, no plastic tube.

Find a storeShop tablets

Sources

  1. Paszynska E. et al. Impact of a toothpaste with microcrystalline hydroxyapatite on the occurrence of early childhood caries: a 1-year randomized clinical trial. Scientific Reports, 2021; 11:2650. Read source
  2. Schlagenhauf U. et al. Impact of a non-fluoridated microcrystalline hydroxyapatite dentifrice on enamel caries progression in highly caries-susceptible orthodontic patients: a randomized, controlled 6-month trial. Journal of Investigative and Clinical Dentistry, 2019; 10:e12399. Read source
  3. Paszynska E. et al. Caries-preventing effect of a hydroxyapatite-toothpaste in adults: a 18-month double-blinded randomized clinical trial. Frontiers in Public Health, 2023; 11:1199728. Read source
  4. Pawinska M. et al. Clinical evidence of caries prevention by hydroxyapatite: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Dentistry, 2024; 105429. Read source
  5. Sangi Co., Ltd. Pioneering technology: the history of hydroxyapatite toothpaste. Read source

This page is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk to your dentist about what’s right for you.