What about mint?
Fluoride in toothpaste is known to strengthen tooth enamel, making it more resistant to the plaque and acids that lead to decay.
Researchers at King’s College London have discovered materials that may offer protection and repair for early damage, potentially replacing fluoride. It’s quite fascinating—really, it might change how we think about dental care.
Keratin, a protein found in human hair, skin, nails, and even sheep wool, resembles the structure and function of natural enamel. It forms a dense mineral layer that helps seal nerve channels, thereby protecting sensitive teeth.
“We are entering an exciting time where biotechnology not only addresses dental issues but also encourages the body to heal itself using its own materials,” said Sherif Elshalkawi, a senior researcher and prosthetics consultant at King’s College London. “With further development and the right industry partnerships,” he added, the future looks promising.
British researchers aim to incorporate the benefits of keratin into everyday toothpaste or specialized gels that could target specific dental problems.
They anticipate that these innovative products could be available within two to three years.
In their research, they sourced keratin from wool, finding that when applied to teeth, it interacts with naturally occurring minerals in saliva to form crystal-like structures akin to enamel.
This so-called “scaffold” continues to attract calcium and phosphate ions from saliva, paving the way for enamel-like coatings to develop over time.
Since tooth enamel lacks live cells, the body cannot naturally regenerate it once lost.
These findings around keratin could mark significant progress in regenerative dentistry—an area focused on using the body’s natural healing processes rather than synthetic materials to repair dental tissue.
This study was published this week in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials.
“Keratin offers a transformative alternative to current dental care,” commented Sara Gamea, a doctoral researcher at King’s College London and the lead author of the study.
Not only is keratin sourced from biological waste like hair and skin, but it also avoids the need for traditional plastic resins often used in dental restoration, which can be toxic and less resilient.
Cavities affect nearly 90% of adults aged 20-64 and approximately 46% of children. Factors including poor oral hygiene, acidic foods and beverages, sugar intake, aging, genetics, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and teeth grinding can all contribute to enamel erosion, leading to sensitivity, pain, and tooth loss.
