Dr Heff's Remarkable Mints | Good Life Letter

Not only do the mints taste great, they help keep your teeth clean and healthy by actively repairing the damage done by tooth decay, and they also freshen your breath throughout the day.

It's all because of a patented special formula –that took four years to test and develop. Now the clever people behind this innovation can boast that their mints are:

Scientifically proven to help repair your teeth

Endorsed by Toothfriendly International

And taste so good, 90% of people asked said they were as good or better than their favourite mint

Tooth decay is caused by the acid-producing bacteria found in plaque. This strips away the building blocks of your tooth: calcium and phosphate, in a process is called  demineralisation.

The bacteria in plaque also produce enzymes called collagenases which destroy the collagen scaffold of the dentine that makes up the deeper layers of your tooth. The enzymes eat away at the root of your tooth and can cause structural damage which, even when repaired by a dentist, can never be as good as your original tooth.

The good news is that in the early stages of tooth decay, in which the collagen scaffold has not been damaged, the calcium and phosphate 'building blocks' can be restored to the tooth, repairing the damage. This process is called remineralisation and instead of lengthy visits to the dentist can be done by sucking on a delicious mint.

Dr Heff's mints help remineralisation in two ways: by reducing acidity levels in the mouth, thereby allowing calcium and phosphate to help repair the damage done by tooth decay. And by preserving the collagen scaffold that provides the structure around which remineralisation occurs.

Researchers at the University of Illinois tested Dr. Heff's Remarkable Mints and found that exposure to Dr. Heff's mints led to a significant reduction in the decay of the tooth samples in comparison with normal saliva and Xylitol-only oral health products.

These extraordinary mints reduce the acidity levels in your mouth more quickly by increasing the production of saliva, creating the right conditions for remineralisation to occur. Second, the use of calcium phosphate in these mints helps to provide the calcium and phosphate 'building blocks' that repair your teeth during remineralisation. Third, the use of a specific green tea extract helps to preserve the collagen structure of your tooth, strengthening the 'scaffolding' that provides the structure for remineralisation to take place.

The crucial lesson is that the faster you can reduce acidity levels in your mouth, the sooner the damaging process of demineralisation stops and the restorative process of remineralisation can start.

Tooth erosion is a common dental problem in which the enamel surface of the tooth is softened by demineralisation and the structure of the tooth itself is then removed layer by layer. This growing dental problem is caused by acids found in drinks such as fruit juices, smoothies, sports and energy drinks. Dental erosion can lead to shallow defects or divots on the smooth surfaces of your teeth and cupping, which is the hollowing out of the biting surfaces of your back teeth.

As the problem of tooth erosion becomes more serious, the teeth can often appear yellow and the front teeth can appear shortened as the enamel surface is stripped away, exposing the layer of dense bony tissue called 'dentine' that forms the bulk of a tooth. Tooth erosion can also damage the root dentine of teeth in much the same way as tooth decay.

The end result of all this erosion is the thinning of your teeth, increased tooth sensitivity, which can be very painful, and, over time, permanent damage to your teeth that will require the help of a dentist to repair.

Dr. Heff's Remarkable Mints reduce tooth erosion in the same three ways that they help remineralisation. The Xylitol in the mints helps the pH level in your mouth return to normal more quickly by reducing acidity levels. The calcium phosphate helps to put the calcium and phosphate 'building blocks' of the tooth back into the enamel. The green tea extract in the mints helps to preserve the collagen scaffold that provides the structure around which the calcium and phosphate 'building blocks' are restored to the tooth.

Xylitol is a naturally occurring sweetener found in many fruits and vegetables.

Dr. Heff's mints use Xylitol which has been proven to fight tooth decay by neutralising plaque acids in the mouth and making it harder for the bacteria that cause decay to stick to your teeth.

Xylitol is an excellent base ingredient for Dr. Heff's Remarkable Mints because it is naturally sweet – helping the mints to taste great. But on its own, even Xylitol doesn't do enough to protect your teeth, so the scientists combined it with…

Green tea extract, which is proven to protect collagen, an essential part of the structure of teeth.

Dental research has found that a specific component of green tea called epigallocatechin gallate (eGCG) helps to protect the surface of our teeth by inhibiting the enzymes that break down collagen.

Further research into green tea extract has found it to also have antimicrobial properties that help to reduce bad breath.

And as an added bonus, green tea extract has no caffeine and is GMO free so you won't find any unpleasant side effects.

They also include calcium and phosphate, which are essential to our teeth and bones.

As our teeth are attacked by bacteria, the calcium and phosphate in our teeth are stripped out.

That's why calcium phosphate is a crucial ingredient in Dr. Heff's Remarkable Mints' unique formulation: it helps to repair teeth that have been damaged by tooth decay through the process of remineralisation.

Plus Dr. Heff's Remarkable Mints use natural peppermint oil to help your mouth feel refreshed and to combat bad breath.