Our aim is to put preventive care into patients’ own hands

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 6. October 2026

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Developed in Scotland, Toothboost is an oral mist designed to support preventive oral care throughout the day, in addition to regular toothbrushing. At the FDI World Dental Congress, held in September in the Czech Republic, Dental Tribune International spoke with dental hygienist Carol Rafferty, who is CEO and co-founder of Dentherapy, the company behind Toothboost, about the formulation’s development, preliminary research into remineralisation and plaque control, potential applications for specific patient groups and plans for commercialisation.

Ms Rafferty, what prompted you to develop Toothboost?
As a dental hygienist, I was aware that we give our patients three key messages: brush twice a day, clean interdentally and reduce sugar intake. However, what I was seeing in practice was the impact of patients’ daily lifestyles—what they were eating and drinking and, importantly, what happened between brushings.

That raised the question of why I did not have a product to recommend to patients to support their oral care between brushings, particularly when their teeth are more vulnerable after consuming coffee, lunch or a sports drink. This led to the idea of developing an oral mist. Our primary aim was to create a product that could support remineralisation of the tooth surface following an acidic challenge and help restore oral homeostasis by supporting saliva’s natural protective functions. We thus created a glycoprotein-based formulation incorporating an ingredient not previously used in oral care.

How did you approach the formulation development, and how has the product portfolio evolved since then?
When I started developing the product, I had no experience in formulation development, patents or regulatory approval. It was like opening a completely new chapter. We were fortunate to find an excellent formulation specialist to work with us: Dr Richard Willson, director of Modus Laboratories. He has more than 20 years of experience in formulation development, much of which he gained at what was then GlaxoSmithKline as a formulator and investigator, and he was part of the team involved in developing Sensodyne Pronamel.

We worked with him at his laboratory in Plymouth in the UK, where he began developing the formulation using a novel glycoprotein and a dairy-derived phosphopeptide. We initially incorporated these ingredients into an oral mist and subsequently expanded the portfolio to include toothpaste, mouthwash and, most recently, dissolving polymer strips, which are similar in appearance to tooth whitening strips but are designed to deliver our key ingredients.

What feedback did you receive from initial users, and how did it inform your subsequent research?
Throughout the formulation development process, we always kept patients and consumers in mind because the idea originated from an unmet need I had identified in clinical practice. Once we had early samples, we distributed them to friends, family members and, most importantly, dental colleagues. Until then, our research had been conducted in vitro, so this gave us an opportunity to gather feedback from people using the product.

“The idea originated from an unmet need I had identified in clinical practice.”

Users particularly liked the taste and freshness. We worked with Swiss flavour company Givaudan on the flavour profile, and many users reported that the product left their teeth feeling as though they had just brushed them. A few also noticed reduced tooth sensitivity.

This feedback prompted us to return to the laboratory and conduct further analysis and testing, through which we identified a potential application for dentine hypersensitivity. This application is covered by our patent portfolio in the US.

What have your investigations shown regarding the formulation’s remineralising potential, particularly in comparison with fluoride?
One of the interesting aspects of our formulation is its remineralising function. Our research has shown that the fluoride-free version can achieve remineralisation comparable to that of fluoride under the conditions investigated.

We have also observed that remineralisation increases with repeated application, whereas the fluoride comparator tends to reach a plateau. This is particularly relevant because Toothboost is designed for frequent use throughout the day, and the oral mist format makes such repeated use practical.

You have also investigated the formulation’s potential for patients experiencing dry mouth and those with periodontal disease. What did you observe?
We gave the product to people experiencing dry mouth, including a patient with Sjögren’s syndrome, and they reported a perceived improvement. Finding an effective way to address insufficient saliva remains a significant challenge, and this potential application is also covered by our patent portfolio in the US.

Another interesting aspect of the technology is its potential to inhibit biofilm formation. We conducted a small pilot study involving 20 patients with diagnosed periodontitis, ten of whom had dental implants. Over three weeks, participants were instructed to use the spray three times daily, at times of their choosing, without changing their existing oral care products or hygiene routines. We assessed bleeding and plaque scores and observed average reductions of 38% and 40%, respectively, over the study period. Although the cohort was small, these preliminary findings have encouraged us to investigate this application further.

At the FDI World Dental Congress, you have had the opportunity to engage with potential partners. What distinguishes the technology, and how do you envisage it being used in preventive oral care?
I think our unique selling point is that we have developed a novel, multifunctional formulation designed very much with patients in mind. The oral mist comes in a 15 ml bottle that can easily fit into a handbag or pocket. People who have used it have told us that they would like to keep one in the car, one in the kitchen and another in their bag.

“We are a small company with big ambitions.”

There is a real opportunity to introduce this technology at a time when we are increasingly considering the relationship between oral and systemic health, salivary diagnostics and personalised care. For example, if a diagnostic assessment identifies early enamel demineralisation, what additional options can we offer patients to support their oral health outside the dental practice? Patients often regard oral care as something that takes place primarily during appointments with their dentist or dental hygienist, and our aim is to put preventive care into patients’ own hands.

The same principle applies to our dissolving strips, including versions that can be applied to the teeth or tongue to deliver the formulation’s biomimetic ingredients into the oral environment. When using the oral mist, patients do not need to direct the spray towards a particular tooth; they simply apply two sprays into the mouth, allowing the formulation to distribute across the oral tissue.

What are the next steps for Dentherapy, and what kind of partnerships are you seeking to support further development and commercialisation?
We have already had opportunities to present our technology internationally. We participated in the ADA Forsyth dentech conference in 2023 and were subsequently invited to the American Dental Association’s SmileCon in 2024, both in the US. Like any business, it is about making contacts, building relationships and identifying opportunities to collaborate with new people.

We have a team that includes microbiologists and immunologists based across the UK, but we are always interested in engaging additional specialists and potential commercial partners. Ultimately, we hope to bring the technology to market in collaboration with a partner who shares our vision. We are a small company with big ambitions.

Editorial note:

More information about the product can be found at toothboost.com.