Here's why the secret to stronger teeth could be connected to your next haircut.
Tooth enamel is the body’s hardest material, tougher even than bone, according to the Cleveland Clinic. But once it’s damaged by decay or wear, it can’t grow back. Traditional fluoride toothpastes and dental care help slow decay and strengthen existing enamel, but they don’t regenerate what’s already lost. But what if the key to repairing it could be found in something completely unusual—like your hair? Recent dental research out of King’s College London reveals that may be true.
The study, published in Advanced Healthcare Materials in August 2025, found that keratin, a type of protein found in hair, skin, and nails—or materials like wool—can repair tooth enamel and stop early stages of tooth decay.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, factors such as eating and drinking acidic or sugary food and drinks, genetics, dry mouth, teeth grinding or clenching—plus everyday wear and tear—can make someone more susceptible to enamel damage. This, in turn, can lead to cavities or infections, as well as teeth sensitivity.
In the study, researchers extracted keratin from wool and applied it to the surface of teeth. Once there, the keratin comes into contact with minerals naturally present in saliva, which then forms a “highly organised, crystal-like scaffold” that functions like natural tooth enamel, according to a news release. Eventually, the keratin scaffold “continues to attract calcium and phosphate ions,” which then lead to the growth of a protective, enamel-like coating.
Not only is keratin “sustainably sourced from biological waste materials like hair and skin,” first study author and researcher at King’s College London Sara Gamea, PhD, says it “also eliminates the need for traditional plastic resins, commonly used in restorative dentistry, which are toxic and less durable.”
The idea is that, eventually, a keratin treatment could be delivered through a toothpaste for at-home daily use, or applied professionally as a gel. There is hope that this type of treatment could be accessible to the public very quickly, “within the next two to three years,” according to the university team.
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