Published this week in Advanced Healthcare Materials, researchers from King’s College London introduced a keratin-based toothpaste that halted early cavities and rebuilt enamel in laboratory tests. Extracted from human hair, nails, and other biodegradable waste, the protein formed a crystalline scaffold on the tooth surface. Contact with saliva drew in calcium and phosphate ions, producing an enamel-like layer that sealed open nerve channels and reduced sensitivity.
“Tissues like bone or hair can somehow regenerate, but that’s not the case for enamel. When it’s lost, it doesn’t come back,” said Sherif Elsharkawy, a lecturer in restorative dentistry and lead author, according to BBC News. The team argued that the keratin scaffold offered the first route to genuine enamel regeneration.
Beyond biological performance, the protein came from salon clippings or surplus wool, providing an alternative to plastic resins used in conventional restorations. “Keratin offers a transformative alternative to current dental treatments. Not only is it sustainably sourced from biological waste materials like hair and skin, it also eliminates the need for traditional plastic resins,” said Sara Gamea, the study’s first author. The material also matched natural tooth colour more closely than existing composites.
In acid-bath simulations that imitated soft-drink exposure, treated teeth stopped decaying while untreated controls continued to erode. The researchers envisioned two products: a household toothpaste and a higher-strength gel that dentists could paint on and cure with light.
“With further development and the right industrial partnerships, we could soon have stronger and healthier smiles from something as simple as a haircut,” said Elsharkawy, according to Gizmodo. He estimated that, following regulatory review, the first keratin-based pastes or gels could reach pharmacies within two to three years.
Assisted by a news-analysis system.