I hope the title of this post grabbed you. Even though I'll admit that it was a blatant attempt at 'click-bait', I honestly thinking reading this post is worth your time. Here's some interesting science info that *might* have the possibility of changing toothpastes and/or remineralization protocols for the better.
Ever since tooth decay was discovered, people have tried to reverse engineer the process and make teeth whole again. In the industry we call that "remineralization". The basic concept (for those non-dental folks reading this) is to apply some type of substance to the tooth and have the tooth absorb those minerals into tiny weakened areas of decay. The thought process is that if those small areas can soak up the minerals, new crystalline tooth structure can form. In theory, this would allow the decay to 'reverse' itself and make the weakened areas like new. Remineralization can only work on tiny areas of decay that are just starting, but small areas can become large areas, so reversing the process at the earliest stages is smart, and that's the goal.
There are several products that attempt to do this that are currently available, but not every product works all the time. Because of that, scientists are constantly looking for better and more effective substances and ways to apply them. Usually remineralization products contain Calcium and Phosphate ions. These tiny particles are attracted to the weakened tooth structure and then bind there creating a matrix for new structure. If that sounds complicated... that's because it is. And, like I said, not every product works every time.
So I took notice when I saw a recent article that talked about using a different chemical to attempt remineralization. That substance is keratin. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about the substance:
Keratin (/ˈkɛrətɪn/[1][2]) is one of a family of structural fibrous proteins also known as scleroproteins. It is the key structural material making up scales, hair, nails, feathers, horns, claws, hooves, and the outer layer of skin in vertebrates. Keratin also protects epithelial cells from damage or stress. Keratin is extremely insoluble in water and organic solvents. Keratin monomers assemble into bundles to form intermediate filaments, which are tough and form strong unmineralized epidermal appendages found in reptiles, birds, amphibians, and mammals
Scientists at King's College London, recently published the findings of a study in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials that discusses using keratin as the basis of a regenerative alternative for repairing damaged teeth. The article title is "Biomimetic Mineralization of Keratin Scaffolds for Enamel Regeneration".
They used keratin extracted from wool and applied it to tooth surfaces in the lab. What they discovered was that when their keratin contacted saliva, a crystallin lattice formed that appears very similar to natural enamel. This lattice appeared to then lead to tooth repair. The study states:
Collectively, these results demonstrate that keratin treatment not only modulates secondary protein structures to promote mineral nucleation but also restores enamel mechanical properties both at the surface and within the lesion depth, supporting its potential as a functional biomimetic strategy for WAL repair.
So, the good news is that in the lab, this appears to be a truly promising way to reverse small areas of decay through remineralization. However, despite these promising results, much more science and testing is needed before we'll see anything like this available in any products. Science is a slow process, but that's a good thing. Meticulous research can lead to incredible advances in knowledge and this could very well be one of them.
If I hear more about this, you can count on me letting you know.
No comments:
Post a Comment