Latest news with #SaraGamea
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Scientists reveal a bizarre cure for tooth cavities: Hair-based toothpaste could end painful dentist visits
From salon floor to smile saver You Might Also Like: Think lemon water is healthy? A Harvard-trained doctor reveals what most people get wrong Why enamel matters — and why this is a big deal As a daily-use toothpaste for ongoing enamel protection As a dentist-applied gel, similar to nail varnish, for targeted repairs Waste-to-healthcare innovation If the idea of brushing your teeth with something made from hair makes you squirm, you might want to hear the science before dismissing it. A groundbreaking study from King's College London, published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, has found that keratin — the same protein found in your hair, skin, nails, and even wool — could help naturally rebuild damaged tooth no, this isn't just about plugging cavities. The research suggests keratin can encourage your teeth to regrow a protective, enamel-like layer — something dentistry has never been able to achieve until works as a kind of microscopic scaffolding. When applied to a tooth's surface, it interacts with minerals in saliva — mainly calcium and phosphate — to create a dense, crystal-like coating that closely mimics natural enamel. Over time, this layer continues to attract more minerals, strengthening itself and sealing off nerve channels that cause sensitivity.'This technology bridges the gap between biology and dentistry,' said Dr. Sara Gamea, lead researcher on the project, in the university's press release . 'Keratin offers a sustainable, biocompatible alternative to toxic and less durable dental resins.'The keratin used in the study came from wool, but researchers confirm human hair could work the same way. That means future toothpaste or dentist-applied gels could, quite literally, come from a byproduct of haircuts — turning waste into a high-value healthcare enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, but once it's worn down, it doesn't grow back. Acidic foods, sugar, aging, and poor oral hygiene all speed up erosion, leading to tooth sensitivity, pain, and eventually decay. Fluoride toothpastes can slow the damage, but they can't restore lost however, could change that. By rebuilding an enamel-like layer, it not only halts decay but may also prevent cavities before they start. Dr. Sherif Elsharkawy, senior study author, calls it 'a shift from symptom management to true biological restoration.'The King's College team envisions two ways to use keratin:With further development, the researchers believe keratin-based dental products could reach the public in the next two to three dental care, this discovery taps into a broader push for circular healthcare — finding ways to transform waste into valuable medical resources. Human hair and animal wool, which often end up discarded, could become raw materials for regenerative Dr. Gamea noted, keratin also looks more natural than existing dental restorations, as it can be matched closely to the tooth's original may sound unconventional, but if brushing with a keratin-based toothpaste means avoiding the drill, the whine of the dental chair, and costly restorative procedures, many might soon welcome it into their daily Perhaps. Game-changing? Absolutely.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Toothpaste made from hair could stop decay, KCL scientists say
Toothpaste made from your own hair could help repair and protect damaged teeth, researchers from King's College London (KCL) found that keratin - a protein found in hair, skin and wool - can repair tooth enamel and stop early stages of research revealed that keratin produces a protective coating that mimics the structure and function of natural enamel when it comes into contact with minerals in Gamea, PhD researcher at KCL and first author of the study, said: "Keratin offers a transformative alternative to current dental treatments." She added: "This technology bridges the gap between biology and dentistry, providing an eco-friendly biomaterial that mirrors natural processes."Not only is it sustainably sourced from biological waste materials like hair and skin, it also eliminates the need for traditional plastic resins, commonly used in restorative dentistry, which are toxic and less durable."In their study, published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, the scientists extracted keratin from wool. They discovered that when keratin is applied to the tooth surface and comes into contact with the minerals naturally present in saliva, it forms a highly organised, crystal-like scaffold that mimics the structure and function of natural time, this scaffold continues to attract calcium and phosphate ions, leading to the growth of a protective enamel-like coating around the tooth, according to foods and drinks, poor oral hygiene and ageing all contribute to enamel erosion and decay, leading to tooth sensitivity, pain and eventually tooth loss. Dr Sherif Elsharkawy, senior author and consultant in prosthodontics at KCL, said: "Unlike bones and hair, enamel does not regenerate, once it is lost, it's gone forever."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."
