Participants in a clinical study of a new toothpaste for sensitive teeth reported significant relief after just two days, according to a recent paper published in The Open Dentistry Journal.

About half the participants claimed a significant reduction in their pain after 48 hours. At the end of two weeks, about three-quarters of the patients reported significant pain relief.

The study was called, “Reduction in Dental Hypersensitivity with Nano-Hydroxyapatite, Potassium Nitrate, Sodium Monofluorophosphate and Antioxidants,” and concluded that the toothpaste ” applied daily significantly decreased tooth pain of dentin hypersensitivity within a two-day and a two-week time period.”

Edward P. Allen, DDS, PhD, a periodontist and co-author of the study, believes that the rapid effectiveness of the new toothpaste used in the study may be due in part to an ingredient called nano-hydroxyapatite. “It’s a calcium-based compound found in the natural tooth structure that actually seems to replace some of the minerals in the enamel and dentin,” says Allen. “The other ingredients in the toothpaste, monofluorophosphate and potassium nitrate, are routinely used in ‘sensitive’ toothpastes. However, most patients require at least one week to feel any difference in their pain.”

The study also suggests that the antioxidants phloretin, ferulic acid and silymarin in this formula may further contribute to the rapid effectiveness of the test toothpaste. Additional research is planned to pinpoint the biochemical reasons why.