I'm writing from the Cincinnati airport after a fabulous few days with some pretty amazing colleagues. I was invited alongside eight other Canadian dentists and dental hygienists to attend the Crest Innovation Forum as key opinion leaders, joining about 100 dental professionals from North America.

The theme was A New Era in Toothpaste, and I came away with a question I never thought I'd ask.

Hops in toothpaste? Yes, the same hops used to brew your favourite ale!

The Crest team gave us a first look at a new toothpaste that builds on Crest Gum Detoxify. The technology behind it took 10 years to develop, and one of my favourite parts of the forum was hearing directly from the scientists who did the work. Their enthusiasm was contagious. We went from lectures to demo tables, where we could see the science up close and ask questions. I loved getting that behind-the-scenes look.

So why hops? Hops have been used in brewing for centuries, and they contain naturally occurring compounds called beta acids. Researchers have been studying how an extract containing these compounds can help break through the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) to better deliver the stannous fluoride to neutralize the plaque bacteria toxins.

That's where I started thinking about our patients and clients. We all have people who brush every day and still miss the same spots. I'm excited about the potential to help them clean those hard-to-reach areas, and below the gumline.

The team also shared what they'd learned from consumers who tried the toothpaste. We heard two case presentations, and we got to try it ourselves over the two days. After brushing, my mouth had that smooth, just-left-my-dental-hygienist feeling. You know the one!

I came away thinking this could be a pretty big shift in what we expect from an everyday toothpaste. The timing shared at the forum was a U.S. launch in early 2027, with Canada expected to follow a little later.

Thank you to the Crest + Oral-B team for inviting me, to the scientists for letting us get hands-on with their work, and to the colleagues who made these past few days so much fun.

I'm off to Halifax on Thursday for the CDHA National Conference! If you're going, come say hello at the rdhu booth. We'd love to see you!

Warmly,
Kathleen

Kathleen Bokrossy, RDH, BSc ~ President, rdhu

Your Professional Growth Partner™