Conscious Living

Toothpaste… Made From Hair?!Wait..toothpaste made from hair?

Sounds gross. Might save your teeth.

Researchers at King’s College London have cooked up something wild: a toothpaste made from keratin (yep, the protein in your hair, nails, and wool sweaters) that could actually repair damaged enamel.

Wait, what’s the deal?

Enamel is the hardest stuff in your body, but once it’s gone, it doesn’t grow back. Fluoride helps slow decay, but it doesn’t rebuild. Enter keratin. Scientists figured out how to use it as a “scaffold” that attracts minerals in your saliva—like calcium and phosphate—to literally patch up weak spots on your teeth.

In lab tests, this keratin layer came out 5–6 times harder than the resin coatings dentists currently use for early decay. Translation: stronger protection, less sensitivity, fewer “ugh, I think I need a filling” moments.

Why it matters

• Fix, don’t just prevent: Instead of slowing damage, this could reverse it.
• Eco win: Keratin comes from hair or wool waste—aka stuff we usually throw away.
• Affordable potential: Because the raw material is abundant, this could make enamel repair more accessible than pricey dental treatments.

What’s the catch?

• Still in the lab—no human trials yet.
• Turning hair protein into a minty, shelf-stable toothpaste? Not a small ask.
• Regulators will need to give the thumbs-up.

Researchers say it could hit the market in 2–3 years if all goes well. Imagine grabbing a tube at CVS that literally turns trash into tooth treasure.

The bottom line

Your future toothpaste might not just fight cavities—it could rebuild your enamel and give waste hair a second life. Weird? Yes. Brilliant? Also yes.

If this works out, your next smile upgrade might literally come from what we used to throw away.

Sources: Nature+2New Atlas+2; King’s College London+2Dental Tribune USA+2

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