London University spinoff hails new tooth repair technology

The BioMinF toothpaste--which has been created from the Queen Mary, University of London spinout BioMin Technologies--replaces lost minerals from tooth enamel and is designed to help prevent decay and treat sensitivity while a consumer sleeps.

It is currently available online and from specialist dental distributors now and will be sold on U.K. high street stores by the end of the year.

BioMin said in a statement that dental decay is the “most prevalent disease worldwide” and the majority of adults will also experience tooth sensitivity at some stage during their lives.

Decay is also the most common reason for children being admitted into hospital, with between 60-90% of school children being affected, it added.

Toothpastes containing BioMInF are able to slowly release calcium, phosphate and fluoride ions over an 8-12 hour timeframe to form fluorapatite mineral to rebuild, strengthen and protect tooth structure. The slow release of fluoride has been identified to be particularly beneficial in prevention of tooth decay.

“Using remineralising toothpaste makes teeth far more resistant to attack from acidic soft drinks like fruit juices and sodas,” explained Professor Robert Hill, chair of dental physical sciences at Queen Mary, who led the team which developed BioMin and won the 2013 Armourers and Brasiers Venture Prize.

Professor Hill has co-founded BioMin Technologies, which aims to commercialise the development. The company will be led by chief executive Richard Whatley, who has previously worked for Dentsply and KaVo.

Whatley said that a key element of their business model includes business partners also becoming investor stakeholders in the company, “thus reducing the need for traditional third-party financing from venture capitalists.”

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