Published on May 31st, 2019 | by Natural Awakenings Northern New Jersey

Taking a Healthy Bite of the Oral Healthcare Market

by Nayda Rondon

Dr. Sayed Ibrahim, founder and CEO of SprinJene and developer of the SprinJene lines of toothpastes, is giving consumers searching for a safer, gentler, yet effective toothpaste something to smile about. He has combined science and nature to create oral healthcare products that meet the needs and wants of a variety of lifestyles that include vegan, gluten-free, kosher, halal and cruelty-free.

Ibrahim earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Howard University and went on to enjoy a career in award-winning toothpaste development at a Fortune 500 company and had a goal of starting an oral care company that would allow him to create a premium, handcrafted toothpaste from scratch. So he left the security of his senior corporate position to pursue his passion.

Dr. Sayed Ibrahim

Ibrahim, a longtime New Jersey resident, spent years developing, testing and optimizing the SprinJene original toothpaste line, which features a patented formula of black seed oil and zinc. In 2015, he launched the original SprinJene line of handcrafted toothpaste; this was followed in 2017 with the launch of SprinJene Natural, SprinJene Natural Sensitive and SprinJene Natural Children’s lines.

After much extensive scientific testing, stringent quality control, building a dedicated work team and acquiring certifications, the company was off and running. Soon, SprinJene was selling in venues like Sprouts, HEB, Hanaford, Costco, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Natural Supermarkets, Kimberton Whole Foods and Amazon, as well as in Europe and Asia. Despite little to no advertising, news of the toothpaste’s effectiveness quickly spread by word of mouth.

“The fact that without any solicitation from us, we have so many real users writing and posting positive reviews about how much they love the product and how well it works, is really gratifying and validating to me,” says Ibrahim, who emphasizes that his formulation doesn’t use chemicals or abrasives; every ingredient is selected for purity and quality to achieve dazzling results—a safe product that cleans and whitens as it protects teeth’s enamel. It is free from animal by-products, artificial dyes, preservatives and saccharine. Its effectiveness comes from natural ingredients such as coconut oil, Nigella Sativa oil (black seed), acacia gum and birch tree xylitol. These ingredients lubricate the tissues and can help prevent bacteria from adhering to teeth.

Unlike most mainstream toothpastes, which are made from coarse, sharp-edged silica, SprinJene is made with rounded, fine, silica, which is safer on enamel and gums to gently clean and whiten teeth. At the heart of the formula is a patented blend of black seed oil and zinc, a natural antibacterial agent that inhibits the growth of bacteria that cause gum disease (gingivitis). In addition to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, black seed oil causes the zinc to adhere to teeth and gums to keep working long after brushing.

The inspiration for this innovative formulation came from Ibrahim’s early days. As a child growing up in Sudan, he saw how his mother would rely on natural home remedies to cure common ailments. For instance, natural black seed, used by Egyptian, Asian and Indian cultures for more than 3,000 years to treat myriad ills, was a favorite remedy when she suffered from gum inflammation. So when as an adult scientist in the U.S., Ibrahim searched for an effective solution to his formulation dilemma, he recalled those early childhood experiences. Tapping into those “mother knows best” ways and the ancient wisdom behind them, he had an “Aha!” moment to try black seed oil.

The out-of-the-box idea seemed improbable at first. “Most people’s reaction was, ‘You’re going to put oil in toothpaste? How’s that going to work? Won’t it separate?’” Ibrahim notes. “My reaction was, ‘Yes, we are!’” So Ibrahim experimented until he came up with the perfect balance of ingredients, one so innovative and unique that it’s earned a patent.

“There are so many toothpastes on the market—expensive and cheap ones—but ours are the only ones to combine high technology with natural efficacy to deliver high performance at affordable prices,” says Ibrahim of his toothpastes, which are priced at about $6.

Doing double duty as both a preventative and treatment option, SprinJene’s benefits include cavity protection, enamel remineralization, breath freshening and helping to alleviate chronic issues such as gum inflammation, staining and dry mouth. The latter benefit is welcome news to diabetics and those undergoing cancer treatment and chemotherapy, because both groups tend to suffer from dry mouth. The sensitivity relief version offers an effective gentle solution to those coping with discomfort when brushing. “It’s very rewarding to know we have such a good product doing so much to benefit so many people with so many different kinds of needs,” says Ibrahim.

“People keep asking us for more,” he notes, explaining the Piscataway, New Jersey, company will be satisfying the growing demand by introducing oral rinse and lip balm products in stores later this year. Expanding out of the oral healthcare division, a new muscle pain relief product that employs the same ingredients used in the company’s oral healthcare category is also in the works.

Whether in oral healthcare or other areas of the health and beauty aids category, SprinJene continues to grow and evolve in order to keep pace with today’s consumer demands and stay true to its founding pledge to offer the best of both nature and science..

For more information, call 732-640-1830, email Inquiries@SprinJene.com or visit SprinJene.com.

Nayda Rondon is a contributing writer for Natural Awakenings magazine.