Toothpaste made from hair could repair teeth and stop tooth decay — Scientists

Toothpaste made from hair may offer a sustainable and clinically effective method for protecting and repairing damaged teeth.

Researchers in London discovered that keratin, a protein found in hair, skin, and wool, can repair tooth enamel and stop the early stages of decay.

The King’s College London team of scientists discovered that keratin produces a protective coating that mimics the structure and function of natural enamel when it comes into contact with the minerals in saliva.

Many tooth problems arise from damaged enamel, which does not regenerate; once it is lost, it is gone forever.

In their study, published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, when keratin mixed with the minerals in saliva, it produced a protective coating to mimic the structure and function of natural enamel.

Fluoride toothpastes and fluoride added to drinking water are currently relied upon to slow enamel erosion, but keratin-based treatments have been found to stop it completely.

The treatment could be a daily toothpaste or a professionally applied gel, similar to nail varnish, in more extreme cases.

According to scientists, it could be made available to the public in two to three years and is seen as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional dental restoration.

The toothpaste will look and feel just like standard fluoride paste, with a minty flavour and foaming texture, but instead contains enough keratin for daily use.

Sara Gamea, PhD researcher at King’s College London and first author of the study, explained that “Keratin offers a transformative alternative to current dental treatments. It is sustainably sourced from biological waste materials, such as hair and skin. It also eliminates the need for traditional plastic resins, commonly used in restorative dentistry, which are toxic and less durable.”

Dr. Sherif Elsharkawy, a prosthodontics consultant at King’s College London and the senior author of a study, declared that in the future, people could even collect their hair to extract keratin.

According to him, “The aim is that we want this to be affordable and to reach the public.”

However, further clinical trials are required to ensure long-term efficacy and scalability.

Oral diseases pose a major health challenge worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that oral diseases affect approximately 3.5 billion people, causing pain, discomfort, disfigurement, and even death.

This research also aligns with broader efforts to embrace circular waste-to-health innovations, transforming what would otherwise be discarded into a valuable clinical resource.

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