Scientists want to make toothpaste from human HAIR - and say it could repair damaged teeth better than fluoride-based products

Daily Mail​

3 days ago

Whether it's splashing out on a fancy electric toothbrush or hopping on a plane to get a set of Turkey teeth, some people will do whatever it takes to get the perfect smile.
But scientists now say the solution to our dental woes has been right there with us the entire time.
Researchers from King's College London found that toothpaste made from human hair can repair damaged teeth better than fluoride-based products.
Treatments made using keratin extracted from hair or wool can completely halt the early stages of tooth decay.
The researchers say this could be applied either in the form of a toothpaste or as a nail varnish-like gel for more targeted repair.
If you suffer from sensitive teeth, the good news is that it could be available to consumers in as little as two to three years.
Senior author Dr Sherif Elsharkawy says: '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.
'With further development and the right industry partnerships, we may soon be growing stronger, healthier smiles from something as simple as a haircut.'
Teeth are covered in a hard outer layer called enamel, mainly made up of calcium and phosphorus, which protects the sensitive inner layers from damage.
Although enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, even stronger than your bones, acidic foods and drinks, and poor dental hygiene can wear it away over time.
This can lead to tooth sensitivity, pain, and even tooth loss in extreme cases.
'Unlike bones and hair, enamel does not regenerate, once it is lost, it's gone forever,' says Dr Elsharkawy.
Toothpastes with high levels of fluoride can help slow down this process, but they cannot stop it entirely.
However, in their new paper, published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, Dr Elsharkawy says that keratin from hair and wool can permanently restore tooth strength.
Keratin is a fibrous protein naturally produced by our bodies that makes up our hair, nails, and the outer layer of our skin.
The researchers found that, when keratin is applied to teeth, it forms a dense mineral layer which mimics the structure and function of enamel.
Keratin reacts with minerals naturally present in saliva to form 'a highly organised, crystal-like scaffold'.
This scaffold continues to absorb calcium and phosphorus from the saliva, which leads to the growth of an 'enamel-like' layer around the tooth.
That layer protects the tooth and seals off the exposed nerve channels, which lead to sensitivity, both relieving the symptoms of tooth decay and fixing the underlying issue.
The researchers believe that this natural treatment has some major advantages over techniques currently being used in dentistry.
In the future, waste hair from hairdressers or excess wool from farms could be recycled into toothpaste.
That means dentists could offer a more eco-friendly option that is even more effective than existing treatments.
First author Sara Gamea, a PhD candidate at King's College London, told Daily Mail: 'By sealing tiny openings in teeth and restoring lost minerals, keratin-based treatments could offer long-lasting protection against sensitivity and wear.'
'Because hair is abundant, renewable, and often discarded as waste, it provides a sustainable and cost-effective source for producing keratin-based materials to help repair teeth.'
ARE TRENDY WAYS OF CLEANING YOUR TEETH EFFECTIVE, OR DANGEROUS?
Top dentists reveal how trendy fads can wreak havoc with people's teeth.
Despite the likes of Gisele Bündchen and the Hemsley sisters swearing by starting every morning with a refreshing glass of hot water and lemon, Dr Ben Atkins, a dentist based in Manchester and Trustee of the Oral Health Foundation, warns the drink effectively dissolves teeth and could even make them darker.
While critics link fluoride to everything from dementia to diabetes, experts argue numerous studies show the mineral does not harm people's health, with free-from varieties missing out on 'the main protective ingredient'.
Dr Atkins also describes the ancient Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling, which involves swishing coconut oil around the mouth, as a 'waste of time', with Dr Rhona Eskander, Best Young Dentist Winner 2016, adding it will not give you a Hollywood smile.
In terms of brushing your teeth with charcoal or apple cider vinegar, both Dr Atkins and Dr Eskander add the 'natural remedies' could do more harm than good as while their acidic, abrasive consistencies may remove surface stains, they could also permanently damage enamel.