Japanese Toothpaste: Hydroxyapatite, Brands and Oral Care

Japanese toothpaste has a cult following overseas for two reasons: nano-hydroxyapatite pastes such as Sangi’s Apagard, and high-fluoride drugstore pastes such as Lion Clinica and Sunstar GUM. This guide explains hydroxyapatite vs fluoride in neutral terms, compares Apagard Premio, M-Plus, Royal, Smokin and Serena, covers Clinica, Systema, GUM, Kao Clear Clean, Japanese mouthwash (including the Propolinse rinse that “pulls out gunk”), floss, Soft-Picks, interdental brushes, tongue cleaners and the water-only MISOKA toothbrush, plus Japan’s fluoride ppm rules, kids toothpaste, how to read a Japanese toothpaste label (歯磨き粉, 薬用, 医薬部外品), where Japanese people buy it, and how to buy Japanese oral care from the US. Prices are maker-listed prices as of November 2026.

Japanese Toothpaste at a Glance: Brands and What They Do

Do Japanese people use toothpaste, and does Japanese toothpaste use fluoride? Yes to both. Most Japanese drugstore toothpaste contains fluoride, and since 2017 Japan allows up to 1,500 ppm, the same level as in the US.^[25] The big exception is Apagard, which uses medical hydroxyapatite and no fluoride.^[2][9] Nothing here is dental advice. Here are the Japanese toothpaste brands (and oral-care brands) you will meet most often:

Other Japan toothpaste brands and toothbrush brands you will see on the shelf include Kao’s Deep Clean and Pyuora, Sunstar Ora2 and Ebisu toothbrushes; this guide sticks to the products whose makers’ pages we could read.

What Is Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste? Meaning and How It Works

Hydroxyapatite meaning: hydroxyapatite (ハイドロキシアパタイト, “HAP”, pronounced hy-DROK-see-AP-uh-tite) is the calcium phosphate mineral that tooth enamel is mostly made of. Sangi says enamel is about 97% hydroxyapatite, and that it synthesized the mineral and put it in the world’s first hydroxyapatite toothpaste, Apadent, in 1980.^[26] In 1993 Japan approved Sangi’s version as an anti-caries ingredient called Medical Hydroxyapatite (mHAP, 薬用ハイドロキシアパタイト).^[27]

What does hydroxyapatite toothpaste do? Sangi describes three actions for its nano-sized mHAP (the “nano” in nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste refers to the particle size):^[27][2]

• Adsorbs and removes plaque. The particles bind bacteria and plaque fragments during brushing, which are rinsed away.
• Fills micro-scratches on the enamel surface, making it smoother so stains and plaque reattach less easily.
• Remineralizes early decay (incipient caries, the demineralized stage before a cavity) by supplying mineral below the surface.

Sangi’s research also says nano mHAP relieves tooth sensitivity by filling and coating exposed dentin tubules.^[2] These are the maker’s statements. As evidence, Sangi cites a 1980s field study in Japanese elementary schools: 181 students used a nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste or a placebo once a day for three years, and the caries suppression rate was 36% greater in boys and 56% greater in girls in the hydroxyapatite group.^[27]

Medical hydroxyapatite vs “hydroxyapatite” on other labels

Not all hydroxyapatite in toothpaste is the same. Sangi explains that “hydroxyapatite” without the 薬用 (medicated) label is used as a cleaning agent or base material to remove dirt, while 薬用ハイドロキシアパタイト is its approved anti-caries ingredient. Other brands’ pastes with medicated hydroxyapatite in Japan are OEM products Sangi makes for them.^[9][27] In the US, Sangi lists X-PUR Remin as an OEM toothpaste containing its nano mHAP.^[2] Nano vs non-nano hydroxyapatite and rod-shaped particles are debated by other brands; Sangi’s own products use nano particles.^[27]

Hydroxyapatite toothpaste percentage

What percentage of hydroxyapatite is in Apagard? Sangi does not disclose it. Its FAQ says only that the content is approved as effective against caries by Japanese authorities, and gives relative amounts: Premio has 1.4 times the nano mHAP of M-Plus, and Royal has 2 times the amount in M-Plus, the highest in the Apagard series.^[2] Any percentage figure you see online does not come from Sangi’s pages.

Hydroxyapatite vs Fluoride Toothpaste

Is hydroxyapatite toothpaste better than fluoride? No regulator we read ranks one over the other, so here are each side’s own explanations:

Sources for the table: hydroxyapatite^[27][2]; fluoride rules^[25][28]; fluoride action^[29][30]. Sangi’s explanation of the difference: fluoride does not replace mineral itself but helps teeth take up calcium and phosphate from saliva to form a fluoridated apatite layer, while nano mHAP itself replaces lost mineral.^[2] Lion describes fluoride as weakening decay-causing bacteria, promoting remineralization of calcium and phosphorus and strengthening the tooth surface, and says it matters for adults (for example root decay), not only children.^[29] The ADA likewise describes fluoride as making enamel more resistant to cavities through remineralization.^[30] Japan’s four dental societies recommend fluoride toothpaste at every age (see the table further down).^[28]

What does Japanese toothpaste use instead of fluoride? Apagard uses hydroxyapatite. Can you use both? Many people brush with a fluoride paste and use a hydroxyapatite paste at another time; Japan also sells hydroxyapatite toothpaste with fluoride from other makers, but Apagard itself contains no fluoride.^[2] If you are deciding for a child, a person with lots of fillings or sensitive teeth, ask your dentist.

Is hydroxyapatite toothpaste safe? Side effects and concerns

• Safety: Sangi calls nano mHAP almost the same substance as the hydroxyapatite in teeth and biocompatible, and says its pastes are safe in pregnancy and for children and babies.^[2]
• Swallowing: Sangi says children swallowing small amounts while brushing is no problem, but paste should not be swallowed or eaten on purpose.^[2]
• Abrasives: Sangi says Apagard contains no abrasive ingredient.^[2][9]
• Whitening: Sangi’s Q&A is frank: brushing removes surface plaque and stains, but toothpaste cannot change the natural color of a tooth. Apagard’s “whitening” means caring for enamel gloss, not bleaching.^[9]

Hydroxyapatite toothpaste pros and cons, in short: on the plus side, a Japan-approved anti-caries ingredient with no fluoride and no abrasive; on the minus side, Sangi does not disclose the percentage, most studies it cites are its own or ones it selected, and individual results vary. The controversy is mainly about whether it can replace fluoride, which Japan’s dental societies do not say; Sangi lists no specific dangers or issues. Does hydroxyapatite toothpaste actually work? The efficacy evidence is the 1993 approval and the studies above.^[27][28] For toddlers, Sangi’s toddler option is Apa Kids Gel.^[2]

Does Japanese toothpaste rebuild enamel or regrow teeth?

No toothpaste regrows teeth or enamel, and a real cavity does not heal or reverse with toothpaste; it needs a dentist. Searches for a “Japanese toothpaste that regrows teeth” (or regrowth), one that “rebuilds enamel”, “restores enamel”, “builds enamel”, “repairs teeth” or can “reverse cavities” usually mean Apagard. What Sangi claims is narrower: remineralizing early, pre-cavity decay below the surface and filling micro-scratches on enamel, which marketing shortens to “enamel repair”. Fluoride toothpaste also promotes remineralization.^[27][29] So does hydroxyapatite toothpaste repair cavities? Not an existing cavity; its claimed role is cavity prevention.

Questions such as lead in Apagard, whether it is vegan, EWG ratings or Consumer Reports reviews are not answered on Sangi’s pages, so we do not make claims about them; check the ingredient list on the box (全成分) and ask the seller.

Apagard Guide: Premio vs M-Plus vs Royal vs Smokin vs Serena

Apagard (アパガード) is Sangi Co., Ltd.’s toothpaste brand, launched in 1985. Its 1995 TV ad, “芸能人は歯が命” (for celebrities, teeth are everything), a TV commercial (advert) that made it a hit and, Sangi says, created the “whitening” category in Japanese oral care.^[26] Every Apagard paste is a quasi-drug (医薬部外品) medicated toothpaste (dentifrice) with nano mHAP. Sangi’s shop cites Intage SRI+ 2025 data calling Apagard the No. 1 series by sales in Japan’s high-function whitening toothpaste market, which is why it tops many lists of popular toothpaste in Japan; no maker publishes an overall “most popular toothpaste in Japan” ranking, so take any recommendations list as opinion.^[31][7][5]

• Apagard Premio vs M-Plus (M+): Premio has 1.4 times the nano mHAP of M-Plus, for “greater whitening and anti-caries protection” in Sangi’s words; M-Plus is the basic type in a larger tube.^[2] M-Plus vs Premio vs Royal: Royal has the most (2 times M-Plus).^[2]
• Apagard Royal vs Premio: Royal launched in 1998 as a mail-order-only top model with more medical hydroxyapatite.^[26] It is sold only through Sangi’s online shop or marketplaces, and Sangi’s own shop delivers only within Japan.^[2][31] Is Apagard Royal worth it? It depends on whether the higher mHAP content matters to you at a higher price; Sangi publishes no head-to-head study between its own pastes.
• Apagard Smokin vs Premio: Smokin (first sold in 1997) adds two tar-removal ingredients; Premio adds more mHAP.^[3][26]
• Apagard Serena vs Premio: Serena is the stain-care type for coffee, tea and wine.^[4]
• Apagard gold: searches for Apagard gold toothpaste usually mean Premio or Royal; we could not confirm a product named “Apagard Gold” on Sangi’s lineup page.^[7]
• Apagard Premio Extra Mint (Xtra Mint, X-mint): a stronger mint version of Premio.^[7]
• Apagard Soft: non-foaming gel with no foaming agent (so no sodium lauryl sulfate, SLS), for mouths sensitive to foaming agents and flavor.^[6]
• Apagard Deep Care dental lotion: a thick liquid toothpaste (not a mouthwash): you take it in your mouth, then brush.^[9]
• Apagard Renamel: sold only through dental clinics.^[7]

Is Apagard good? Is Apagard Premio good, or safe? Sangi’s claims are listed above with their sources; whether a paste suits you is a question for your dentist. Does Apagard really work? Sangi points to its 1993 approval and the school study above.^[27] Sangi’s instructions: use 1–1.5 cm of paste, brush teeth and gums carefully for about 3–5 minutes, ideally after each meal, then spit and rinse lightly.^[2] In Japan, Sangi says Apagard is sold in most drugstores and in variety stores such as Tokyu Hands and Loft.^[2] Apagard vs Apadent: Apadent is Sangi’s other mHAP brand with extra gum-care and sensitivity ingredients.^[2] Apagard in the USA: Sangi sells abroad through distributors and OEM partners, so the brand in the USA is mostly imported stock; the Apagard website is apagard.com (Japanese).^[2] Comparisons with a toothpaste like Apagard, such as Apagard vs Boka, Ollie, Dr. Jen, Mouthology or Sensodyne come down to ingredients: Apagard has nano mHAP and no fluoride; check each other brand’s own label.

Search OneMall: アパガード (Apagard), アパガード プレミオ (Apagard Premio), アパガード ロイヤル (Apagard Royal).

Lion Clinica: Clinica Advantage, Clinica PRO and Clinica Kids

Clinica (クリニカ) is Lion’s “preventive dentistry” brand. Clinica Advantage toothpaste contains high-concentration fluoride (1,450 ppm) in what Lion calls a high-adhesion fluoride formula, plus LSS (sodium lauroyl sarcosinate) against bacteria and bad breath, TPP (sodium polyphosphate) against tartar, and the plaque-breaking enzyme DEX (dextranase). It comes in a 130 g upright tube in cool mint, citrus mint and soft mint, and Lion says not to use it for children under 6.^[10] So is Clinica toothpaste good? It is a standard high-fluoride quasi-drug paste with an enzyme; those are its benefits, uses and ingredients as Lion lists them. Lion lists no side effects beyond the under-6 caution.^[10]

• Clinica PRO toothpaste: the line includes Clinica PRO All-in-One, PRO plus Whitening and PRO plus gum-care pastes, plus Clinica PRO brushes.^[10]
• Clinica Advantage + Whitening and a Clinica gel toothpaste for electric toothbrushes; Clinica Enamel Pearl.^[10]
• Clinica Jr. toothpaste: 60 g, fluoride plus enzyme, a mild mint for upper elementary and junior high students moving to adult paste; made in Japan.^[11]
• Clinica Kids toothpaste: Kid’s gel, Kid’s paste, Kid’s brush and Kid’s rinse.^[10]
• Clinica floss: Y-shaped floss, slim floss, sponge floss, double floss and floss sticks.^[10]

Search クリニカ (Clinica) on OneMall.

Lion Systema and Sunstar GUM: Gum-Care Toothpaste

Systema (システマ) is Lion’s gum line. Dentor Systema toothpaste is a quasi-drug paste that Lion says kills periodontal plaque down in the gum pocket.^[12] Systema EX Dental Rinse comes in a non-alcohol type and an alcohol type.^[13]

Sunstar GUM (ガム) is Sunstar’s gum-care brand in Japan. GUM Dental Paste kills periodontal bacteria, absorbs and removes their fragments (LPS), uses the anti-inflammatory ingredient GK2 (dipotassium glycyrrhizinate) and contains 1,450 ppm fluoride; not for under-6s. The range also includes GUM Premium Total Care, sensitive-teeth (知覚過敏ケア) and gum-care versions, and GUM Plus.^[14] GUM Sunstar ultra-soft and other toothbrushes, a tongue brush with a brush on one side and a scraper on the other, a GUM travel set (travel kit) and kids products round it out.^[32][23]

Kao Clear Clean

Kao’s Clear Clean (クリアクリーン) Regular comes in three flavors: fresh citrus (mild, also suited to kids), natural mint and extra cool.^[17] Clear Clean Premium contains high-concentration fluoride (1,450 ppm), with a whitening version, and both are quasi-drugs not meant for children under 6.^[16] Clear Clean also has a kids line, Nexdent, brushes and mouthwash.^[17]

Japanese Kids Toothpaste and Fluoride ppm Rules in Japan

Until 2017 Japanese toothpaste could contain at most 1,000 ppm fluoride (0.10%). Since March 17, 2017 the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved toothpaste with up to 1,500 ppm (0.15%), the international standard. The Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry adds that children under 6 should not use toothpaste above 1,000 ppm.^[25] That is why Clinica Advantage, GUM and Clear Clean Premium (1,450 ppm) carry an “under 6” warning.^[10][14][16]

In January 2023 four Japanese dental societies (the Japanese Society for Oral Health, the Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry, the Japanese Society of Conservative Dentistry and the Japanese Society of Gerodontology) published this joint recommendation:^[28]

The societies also note that 5,000 ppm toothpaste, which helps prevent root decay in adults, is not sold in Japan, and that because Japan has no community water fluoridation, fluoride rinses and professional application matter too.^[28]

Best options for kids (by type)

• Fluoride kids toothpaste: Clinica Kid’s gel and paste, Clinica Jr. for older children, GUM kids paste with CPC and fluoride (Miffy packaging), Clear Clean Kids.^{[10][11][23][17]}
• Fluoride-free hydroxyapatite for kids: Apagard Apa Kids Gel (first teeth) and Apa Kids paste (grape or soda flavor, with xylitol).^[2][8] Sangi calls them safe for children and babies.^[2]

Hydroxyapatite toothpaste vs fluoride for kids: Japan’s dental societies recommend age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste; Sangi recommends its fluoride-free kids line. Talk to your child’s dentist.

How to Read a Japanese Toothpaste Label

• 歯磨き粉 / ハミガキ / 歯みがき (hamigaki-ko, hamigaki): toothpaste. Toothpaste in Japanese is usually written ハミガキ on the box.
• 歯ブラシ / ハブラシ (haburashi): toothbrush. the Japanese translation of toothbrush is haburashi; floss is フロス (dental floss in Japanese: デンタルフロス).
• 医薬部外品 (iyaku-bugaihin, quasi-drug): a product with a mild action, between a drug and a cosmetic. Medicated toothpaste and mouthwash fall in this category, and anything labeled 薬用 (yakuyo, “medicated”) is also a quasi-drug. Quasi-drugs must list ingredients that may cause allergies.^[33] All the pastes in this guide are labeled 医薬部外品.^{[5][10][14][16]}
• フッ素 / フッ化物 ○○ppm: fluoride and its concentration, for example 高濃度フッ素1450ppm配合.^[10][16]
• ハイドロキシアパタイト / 薬用ハイドロキシアパタイト: hydroxyapatite / medical hydroxyapatite.^[9]
• 6歳未満には使用をお控えください: do not use for children under 6.^[10][16]
• 知覚過敏 (sensitive teeth), 歯周病 (gum disease), 歯肉炎 (gingivitis), 口臭 (bad breath), 美白 / ホワイトニング (whitening), 低発泡 / 無発泡 (low / no foam), ノンアルコール (alcohol-free).
• Japanese toothpaste sizes are in grams: 53 g, 60 g, 80 g, 105 g, 130 g are common.^{[5][1][6][8][10]}

Japanese Mouthwash: Propolinse, Clinica, Systema, GUM

Do Japanese people use mouthwash? Japanese drugstores sell rinses in two types: 洗口液 (mouthwash) and 液体歯磨 (liquid toothpaste, used before or while brushing). Does Japanese mouthwash actually work? Each maker states its own purpose; here is what they say:

The “Japanese mouthwash that pulls out gunk”: Propolinse

The viral Japanese mouthwash on TikTok is Pieras Propolinse (プロポリンス). Pieras says its ingredients bind protein residue in the mouth and solidify it, so after swishing for 20–30 seconds you see brownish clumps in what you spit out; the maker notes the amount varies with the state of your mouth. The Dental Whitening version does not produce the clumps. Ingredients include propolis extract, malic acid and xylitol.^[18] So is the Japanese mouthwash real, or legit? The visible “gunk” is how the product is designed to work, according to Pieras; it is not a measure of plaque removed. Listed prices: 600 ml regular ¥1,078, Pure (non-alcohol) ¥1,078, 150 ml travel bottles ¥330, plus stick-pouch packets for on-the-go use.^[18] Okuchi lemon mouthwash sticks, mouthwash tablets or pills and toothpaste tablets also trend online, but we could not confirm their maker pages, so we make no claims about how Okuchi works; search オクチ on OneMall to see where to buy it. Gargling (うがい) with water or salt water, or a lemon gargle, is a separate Japanese habit from a mouth rinse.

Japanese vs American mouthwash: these rinses are mostly quasi-drugs for decay, gum disease (gingivitis, plaque) and bad breath, for dry or sensitive mouths pick low-irritation types, and several come in alcohol-free (ノンアルコール) versions.^{[21][13][22][18]}

Can Japanese mouthwash ship to the US?

Alcohol-based mouthwash may be refused by carriers. OneMall cannot ship flammable liquids or sprays, and items OneMall cannot handle are blocked from purchase.^[34] Kao, for one alcohol-containing rinse, states that the product does not count as dangerous goods for air mail because its alcohol content is 24% or less and its flash point is above 60 °C.^[24] Even so, carriers and US customs set their own rules, and we cannot promise any rinse will ship. Prefer alcohol-free (ノンアルコール) rinses, avoid mouth sprays, and check the product page before ordering. Search ノンアルコール マウスウォッシュ (alcohol-free mouthwash) or プロポリンス (Propolinse).

Japanese Dental Floss, Soft-Picks, Interdental Brushes and Tongue Cleaners

• GUM dental floss: waxed 40 m expanding floss, unwaxed 40 m expanding floss, waxed 50 m flat floss for tight gaps, and Y-shaped GUM Floss & Pick with handles (30 pieces), Japan’s version of flossers.^[35] GUM easy flossers and kids flossers sold in the US did not appear on Sunstar’s Japanese pages, so we could not confirm them. Is waxed dental floss better? The flat waxed type slides into tight contacts; the expanding type puffs up to clean wider gaps.^[35]
• GUM Soft-Picks: rubber interdental “brushes” recommended for first-time users, gentle on gums. Soft-Picks is a registered trademark of Sunstar Suisse. There are curved and bendable versions.^[15]
• GUM interdental brushes: I-shaped (straight) for front teeth with a thin handle, and L-shaped for back teeth.^[36][15]
• Tongue cleaners: the GUM tongue brush has a brush on one side and a spatula on the other for tongue coating and bad breath.^[32]
• Types of dental floss thread in Japan: Clinica sells Y-type, slim, sponge, double and floss-and-stick types.^[10]

Search 歯間ブラシ (interdental brushes) and デンタルフロス (dental floss) or 舌ブラシ (tongue brush).

Japanese Toothbrushes: MISOKA, GUM, Clinica and Apagard

MISOKA (ミソカ) is the “water-only” Japanese toothbrush. Its maker, Yumeshokunin, says nano-sized magnesium, calcium and sodium coat the bristle tips, so you dip the brush in water and brush without toothpaste; more than 4 million have been sold in Asia and other regions.^[19] The basic MISOKA toothbrush is listed at ¥1,320 (tax incl.), and there are MISOKA S, SS, Kids, MISOKA・ISM, Bamboo, the portable travel toothbrush MISOKA for TO&FRO and electric versions.^[20] It is a manual, mineral-coated (“nanotech”) toothbrush, not a toothpaste.

• Firmness, heads, holders: packs say かため (hard), ふつう (normal) or やわらかめ (soft); MISOKA sells ふつう and やわらかめ bristles.^[20] Search 替えブラシ (replacement heads), 使い捨て歯ブラシ (disposable toothbrush) and 歯ブラシスタンド (toothbrush or toothpaste holder); we did not check maker pages for these.
• Clinica brushes: flat-cut, 3D-cut, PRO rubber-head and kids brushes, plus Lion’s electric assist brush.^[10]
• Apagard brushes: eco, Crystal and Royal toothbrushes.^[7]

Search 歯ブラシ 日本製 (Japanese-made toothbrushes) or MISOKA 歯ブラシ on OneMall. For other Japanese grooming tools, see our Japanese nail clippers, razors and tweezers guide.

Sensitive Teeth, Whitening and Gum Care: Which Japanese Paste?

• Sensitive teeth: GUM Premium sensitive-care (知覚過敏ケア) pastes; Apagard Soft for mouths sensitive to foaming agents; Sangi says nano mHAP coats exposed dentin tubules.^[14][6][2]
• Whitening: is there a toothpaste that really whitens teeth? Toothpaste can make teeth look whiter by removing stain, which is what Apagard Premio, Serena or Royal, Clinica Advantage + Whitening, Clear Clean Premium whitening. No toothpaste bleaches teeth: Sangi notes brushing removes surface stain but cannot change natural tooth color.^[9][10][16]
• Gum disease, gingivitis and receding gums: Systema, GUM Dental Paste, and Apagard pastes (which Sangi says also contain periodontal-prevention ingredients).^[12][14][9]

Where to Buy Japanese Toothpaste in Japan

In Japan, toothpaste and oral care are sold in drugstore chains such as Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Welcia, Sundrug and Tsuruha, in supermarkets and Don Quijote. Sangi says Apagard is in most drugstores and in variety stores such as Tokyu Hands and Loft.^[2] Apagard Royal is the exception: it is online-only, and Sangi’s own online shop ships only within Japan.^[2][31] Buying from Japan gives you the full domestic lineup, including Japan-only items such as Royal.

How to Buy Japanese Toothpaste and Oral Care from Japan

1. Search in Japanese: アパガード プレミオ, アパガード ロイヤル, クリニカ アドバンテージ, ガム デンタルペースト, システマ, クリアクリーン, プロポリンス, MISOKA, 歯間ブラシ, デンタルフロス. Try GUM 歯磨き粉 (GUM toothpaste).
2. Avoid sprays and alcohol-based rinses; toothpaste, brushes and floss are not on OneMall’s prohibited list, but sprays and flammable liquids are.^[34]
3. Bundle: toothpaste tubes are light, so consolidating several tubes, floss and brushes into one parcel spreads the shipping cost. Have multiple packs checked at the Tokyo warehouse with unboxing photos (¥500 / ¥700) or a wrong/missing item check (¥200) before international shipping.

OneMall buys from Japanese marketplaces such as Mercari, Yahoo Auctions, Rakuten and Amazon Japan, and from other Japanese online stores (including maker web shops) through LinkBuy. Items that need a lottery entry, purchase limit, Japanese identity verification or a merchant account cannot be purchased. International shipping is charged on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight (length × width × height ÷ 5,000) of the box the warehouse uses.

Service fees are ¥300 per item on most marketplaces; from ¥200 per item on Yahoo Auctions and LinkBuy. The first six orders consolidate free; each additional order costs ¥100. Storage is free for 90 days after arrival (30 days after consolidation). Payment is by Visa, Mastercard or PayPal, settled in USD.

US buyers: since August 29, 2025, US-bound parcels of any value go through customs and pay applicable duties, taxes and fees — the $800 de minimis exemption no longer applies. OneMall currently ships to the United States by ECMS, DHL and Japan Post EMS (DDP — declared value up to USD 2,500, duties prepaid with the shipping fee); the live quote at checkout shows which lines accept your parcel.

If something breaks: damage caused inside the warehouse by OneMall is refunded at the item’s purchase price; damage in international transit is compensated up to the international shipping fee paid, and must be reported within 24 hours with the order number, photos and a full unboxing video. Loss in transit is handled by the carrier, and OneMall helps confirm with the carrier and file the claim within 72 hours. Duties and customs fees are paid by the buyer.

Compare the best Japan proxy services and proxy costs by total landed cost. For more Japanese drugstore shopping, see our Japanese skincare brands guide, Japanese shampoo and hair care guide, Japanese makeup brands guide and Imabari towels guide. Our sibling guide to Japanese bath salts and body wash is coming soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Japanese hydroxyapatite toothpaste called?

The best-known is Apagard by Sangi, a toothpaste with nano medical hydroxyapatite (mHAP) approved in Japan as an anti-caries ingredient in 1993. Premio, M-Plus and Royal are its main versions.

Does Japanese toothpaste use fluoride?

Most does. Since March 2017 Japan allows up to 1,500 ppm, and Clinica Advantage, GUM Dental Paste and Clear Clean Premium contain 1,450 ppm.

Is Japanese toothpaste better than US toothpaste?

Japan vs USA: not inherently. Fluoride limits are now similar. What is different is choice: Japan-only hydroxyapatite pastes, enzyme pastes and many kids and gum-care lines.

Can I ship Japanese mouthwash to the US?

Alcohol-based mouthwash may be refused by carriers and sprays cannot be shipped. Choose alcohol-free rinses and check before ordering; we cannot promise any rinse will ship.

References

1. Apagard M-Plus product page. https://www.apagard.com/product/detail/mplus.html
2. Sangi: FAQ (nano mHAP, fluoride, Premio, Royal, safety). https://www.sangi-co.com/en/faq/index.html
3. Apagard Smokin product page. https://www.apagard.com/product/detail/smokin.html
4. Apagard Serena product page. https://www.apagard.com/product/detail/serena.html
5. Apagard Premio product page. https://www.apagard.com/product/detail/premio.html
6. Apagard Soft product page. https://www.apagard.com/product/detail/soft.html
7. Apagard: product lineup. https://www.apagard.com/product/index.html
8. Apagard Apa Kids (grape) product page. https://www.apagard.com/product/detail/product04_2.html
9. Apagard Q&A (Japanese). https://www.apagard.com/question/index.html
10. Lion: Clinica Advantage toothpaste. https://clinica.lion.co.jp/product/advantage.htm
11. Lion: Clinica Jr. toothpaste. https://clinica.lion.co.jp/product/jr_clinica.htm
12. Lion: Dentor Systema toothpaste. https://systema.lion.co.jp/product/ex/hamigaki.htm
13. Lion: Systema EX Dental Rinse (alcohol and non-alcohol types). https://systema.lion.co.jp/product/ex/rinse_ex.htm
14. Sunstar: GUM Dental Paste lineup. https://jp.sunstargum.com/lineup/pstcem/dentalpaste/
15. Sunstar: GUM Soft-Picks. https://jp.sunstargum.com/lineup/cleaner/procare_softpick/
16. Kao: Clear Clean Premium. https://www.kao.co.jp/clearclean/product/premium/
17. Kao: Clear Clean Regular. https://www.kao.co.jp/clearclean/product/regular/
18. Pieras: Propolinse mouthwash site. https://propolinse.jp/
19. MISOKA: about MISOKA and how to use it. https://www.misoka.jp/html/page2.html
20. MISOKA web shop: MISOKA toothbrush prices. https://www.misoka.jp/shopdetail/000000000151/ct89/page1/recommend/
21. Lion: Clinica Advantage Dental Rinse. https://clinica.lion.co.jp/product/advantage_rinse.htm
22. Sunstar: GUM Dental Rinse non-alcohol type. https://jp.sunstargum.com/lineup/rinseeconde/non_alcoholic/
23. Sunstar: GUM kids paste and kids rinse. https://jp.sunstargum.com/lineup/kids/kids_paste/
24. Kao: Clear Clean Whitening Dental Rinse (alcohol, air-mail note). https://www.kao.com/jp/products/clearclean/4901301203250/
25. Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry: high-concentration fluoride toothpaste (Dec 2018). https://www.jspd.or.jp/recommendation/article14/
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