The next time you pull an unwanted hair out of your mouth, here’s food for thought—the keratin found in that hair may show up in toothpaste within the next two to three years.
That’s right. The keratin in hair, nails, skin, and sheep’s wool has been shown to not only repair tooth enamel but prevent early stages of decay in teeth. While fluoride slows the progression of disease, keratin has been shown to stop it completely.
In one of their studies geared toward oral health, the scientists at King’s College London discovered that keratin produces a protective coating that mimics the function of enamel on teeth. “Unlike bones and hair, enamel does not regenerate,” said Dr. Sherif Elsharkawy, senior author of the study. Once enamel wears down, it’s gone.
According to an article from King’s College,“Keratin forms a dense mineral layer that protects the tooth and seals off exposed nerve channels that cause sensitivity, offering both structural and symptomatic relief.”
Sara Gamea, PhD, worked on the study and noted that keratin is “sustainably sourced from biological waste materials like hair and skin, and it eliminates the need for traditional plastic resins commonly used in restorative dentistry, which are toxic and less durable.”
This is an important step as people become more environmentally conscious regarding the sustainability of health-care materials.This study also addresses the current climate regarding the safety of fluoride and offers a possible solution for those who believe that fluoride is not safe for use.
The scientists at King’s College London also envision creating a gel, similar to nail varnish, that can be professionally applied to directly target problem areas on someone’s teeth.
To conduct their experiments, they extracted keratin from the wool of sheep. They applied it to tooth enamel, where it interacted with minerals naturally present in saliva to create a crystal-like structure that mimics the structure and function of natural enamel, according to an article in the New York Post.
This study advances regenerative dentistry, which is focusing on the body’s own healing materials as opposed to the synthetic materials used today.
“With further development and the right industry partnerships, we may soon be growing stronger, healthier smiles from something as simple as a haircut,” said Dr. Elsharkawy.
Read the study in Advanced Healthcare Materials.
