Mint to be?
Fluoride in toothpaste has been shown to strengthen tooth enamel, making our chompers more resistant to acids from plaque and bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Researchers from King’s College London say they have identified a substance that can protect against decay and repair early-stage damage better than fluoride. Brace yourself — it’s found atop your head.
“We are entering an exciting era where biotechnology allows us to not just treat symptoms but restore biological function using the body’s own materials,” said Sherif Elsharkawy, senior study author and consultant in prosthodontics at King’s College London.
“With further development and the right industry partnerships,” he added, “we may soon be growing stronger, healthier smiles from something as simple as a haircut.”
Keratin — a protein in human hair, skin, nails and the wool of sheep — forms a dense mineral coating that mimics the structure and function of natural enamel, protecting teeth and potentially sealing exposed nerve channels that cause sensitivity.
The UK researchers hope to channel the power of keratin into a daily toothpaste or a professionally applied gel that can target problem areas.
They envision a product hitting shelves in two to three years.
For this study, they harvested keratin from wool. They found that when the protein is applied to the tooth surface, it interacts with minerals naturally present in saliva to create a crystal-like structure that resembles enamel.
This so-called “scaffolding” continues to attract calcium and phosphate ions from saliva, paving the way for an enamel-like coating to grow over time.
Tooth enamel lacks living cells, which means it cannot be regrown by the body. Once it’s lost, it’s gone.
The keratin findings are being hailed as an advancement in regenerative dentistry, a field focused on harnessing the body’s own healing mechanisms instead of synthetic materials to repair and regrow damaged dental tissues.
The study was published this week in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials.
“Keratin offers a transformative alternative to current dental treatments,” said Sara Gamea, PhD researcher at King’s College London and first author of the study.
“Not only is it sustainably sourced from biological waste materials like hair and skin,” she continued, “it also eliminates the need for traditional plastic resins, commonly used in restorative dentistry, which are toxic and less durable.”
Tooth decay affects nearly 90% of adults 20 to 64 years old and about 46% of children.
Poor oral hygiene, acidic foods and drinks, sugar, aging, genetics and conditions such as dry mouth, gastroesophageal reflux disease and teeth grinding can contribute to enamel erosion, which can cause tooth sensitivity, pain and tooth loss.
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