Researchers say human hair could soon be key to repairing teeth damaged by cavities

A unit of scientists in London may have located a way to repair tooth enamel using an ingredient revealed in an unexpected place human hair Researchers at King s College London experimented with keratin the same natural protein ascertained in hair skin and nails on teeth In lab tests the system has shown likely in repairing early defective dental enamel lesions restoring both optical appearance and mechanical properties potentially offering a future in reversing cavities Daily habits like sipping acidic drinks or skipping proper brushing gradually erode enamel causing sensitivity and tooth loss the scrutiny explains While fluoride can only slow the damage the keratin-based formula in the new review stopped it entirely in lab tests Researchers harvested keratin from wool and located that it forms a crystal-like structure upon application to the tooth surface and exposure to minerals in saliva ROOT CANALS MAY DO MORE THAN SAVE TEETH THEY COULD BOOST OVERALL STRENGTH INQUIRY FINDSOver time this structure attracted calcium and phosphate and turned them into a durable layer that mimics enamel By forming a dense mineral layer that seals nerve pathways keratin shields teeth from further wear and relieves sensitivity at the same time the investigation located TREATING GUM SYNDROME COULD REDUCE LIABILITY OF HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES RESEARCH SUGGESTSAccording to the research gang the regenerated material could protect teeth against further acid wear and the process might even reverse early decay DENTAL EXPERTS REVEAL ESSENTIAL TIPS TO PREVENT TOOTH LOSS IN AGING ADULTSWhat makes the discovery especially appealing is its likely for sustainability the researchers say Keratin can be harvested from hair or wool that would otherwise be discarded turning waste into a valuable wellbeing product In the press announcement King s College London scientists announced they envision it being added to everyday toothpaste or used in dentist-applied treatments within the next sparse years though that depends on further testing and commercial advancement CLICK HERE FOR MORE ROBUSTNESS STORIESExperts caution that this breakthrough is still in its early stages Only limited enamel thickness was regenerated along with questionable biocompatibility the survey notes adding that the clinical applicability of this technique is challenging due to the complicated fabrication process That means questions remain about the scalability of the answer in widespread application CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR SOUNDNESS NEWSLETTERAccording to the researchers more work is needed to understand how thick and durable the new enamel layer can become and whether it can withstand years of real-world wear Independent dental scientists have also noted that lab-based enamel regeneration studies often struggle to match the complexity of true enamel Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body but it can t naturally regrow once it s damaged Traditional toothpastes and fluoride treatments only help slow decay or strengthen what s left If the keratin-based method proves effective in people experts say it could mark a major step toward truly regenerative dentistry TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZThe review was published in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials