Faulty heart valves can regenerate.
Tooth enamel, on the other hand, cannot. Until now. Using the knowledge that hair (from humans or sheep) contains keratin, a London-based research team has tried embedding it in dental creams and gels.
The keratin combines with minerals in the saliva to form crystals. These, in turn, are fused into a scaffold, which resembles tooth enamel, settling around the damaged teeth.
In time, the scaffold attracts both calcium and phosphate ions, enabling new enamel to form. This naturally added layer also protects exposed nerve channels again, reducing sensitivity.
A circular innovation that could be market-ready in a few years. So long cold pain and plastic resins.
Toothpaste could also help reverse peanut allergies.
