Scientists tested whether drinking marine collagen supplements could help fix white spots on teeth - early signs of tooth decay. They created artificial tooth damage on 50 tooth samples and treated some with marine collagen drink for 28 days. The collagen-treated teeth showed better mineral content and hardness compared to untreated damaged teeth, though not quite as good as healthy teeth. The collagen seemed to create a protective layer that helped strengthen the tooth surface up to 150 micrometers deep, suggesting this supplement might help protect against early tooth decay.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether drinking marine collagen supplements can help repair white spots on teeth that are early signs of decay
  • Who participated: This was a lab study using 50 human tooth samples, not living people
  • Key finding: Marine collagen treatment improved tooth mineral content and hardness compared to damaged teeth, but didn’t fully restore them to healthy levels
  • What it means for you: Marine collagen supplements might help strengthen teeth with early decay, but this needs testing in real people before we know if drinking it actually works

The Research Details

Researchers took 50 human tooth samples and divided them into five groups. One group stayed healthy, one group was damaged with acid to create white spots (like early tooth decay), and three groups were damaged then treated with different methods: marine collagen drink, a commercial tooth repair system called Regenerate, or a dental cleaning method called Sylc air abrasion. The treatments lasted 28 days, followed by four weeks in artificial saliva.

This controlled lab setup allowed researchers to directly compare how well marine collagen works against other tooth repair methods under identical conditions, without other factors that might affect results in real mouths.

The study used multiple scientific measurement methods and was published in a respected journal. However, it’s a small lab study on tooth samples, not a clinical trial with real people, which limits how directly we can apply the results.

What the Results Show

Marine collagen treatment significantly improved both the mineral content and hardness of damaged tooth surfaces compared to untreated white spot lesions. The collagen created a compact, mineral-like layer that covered the damaged areas and strengthened the tooth surface. This improvement reached up to 150 micrometers deep into the tooth. However, the marine collagen didn’t work as well as the commercial Regenerate system, and neither treatment fully restored the teeth to their original healthy state.

The researchers found a strong positive relationship between mineral content and tooth hardness, especially in the surface layers. Under microscopic examination, the marine collagen treatment created visible structural improvements that helped restore the tooth’s surface integrity.

This appears to be one of the first studies specifically testing marine collagen drinks for tooth repair. Previous research has shown that collagen can help with tissue regeneration in other parts of the body, and this study extends that potential benefit to dental health.

This was only tested on tooth samples in a lab, not in real people’s mouths. The study was small with only 10 samples per group. Real-world factors like saliva, bacteria, diet, and individual differences weren’t considered.

The Bottom Line

While promising, this research is too early to recommend marine collagen specifically for tooth health. Continue regular dental care and consult your dentist about early signs of tooth decay. If you’re already taking marine collagen for other reasons, this suggests it might have additional dental benefits.

People with early tooth decay (white spots), those interested in preventive dental care, and anyone currently using collagen supplements. However, people with serious dental problems should prioritize proven dental treatments.

In this lab study, improvements were seen after 28 days of treatment. Real-world results in people’s mouths might take longer and vary significantly between individuals.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily collagen supplement intake and note any changes in tooth sensitivity or appearance of white spots during dental self-checks
  • If using marine collagen supplements, maintain consistent daily intake and combine with good oral hygiene practices like regular brushing and flossing
  • Log supplement consistency, dental symptoms, and professional dental checkup results to identify any patterns over 3-6 month periods

This research was conducted on tooth samples in a laboratory, not in living people. These findings do not constitute medical or dental advice. Consult your dentist or healthcare provider before using supplements to treat dental problems or making changes to your oral health routine.