BRITISH SCIENTISTS CREATE NEW TOOTHPASTE WITH SHEEP’S WOOL AND SPIT

On September 4th, 2025, scientists at King’s College, London, created a new toothpaste with sheep’s wool. Unlike most modern toothpastes, the new toothpaste researchers believed it to not only be able to protect teeth, but also to repair them.

Teeth are some of the most important parts of the body. However, unlike many muscles and bones, teeth cannot be repaired after damage. Dr. Sherif Elsharkawy, senior author and consultant in prosthodontics at King’s College London, said, “Unlike bones and hair, enamel does not regenerate, once it is lost, it’s gone forever.” The most important part of a tooth is the enamel. The enamel is the toughest substance in the entire body, but it can still wear down. One of the most common reasons is a layer of “plaque”, which produces acid, which in turn decays your enamel. Acidic foods and drinks, poor oral hygiene, and aging all contribute to enamel erosion and decay, leading to tooth sensitivity, pain, and eventually tooth loss.

Most toothpastes used nowadays contain fluoride. Fluoride adds minerals to enamel, making it stronger. In addition, fluoride helps inhibit the activity of cavity-inducing bacteria. However, fluoride is unable to rebuild lost enamel. As of now, once enamel is gone, it is gone forever.

The scientists are now working on a new solution, keratin. Keratin is a protein that strengthens hair, nails, and skin. In addition, keratin has been found to regulate key cellular growth. Also, since keratin is used in your own body, your immune system will not attack it, unlike many other proteins that stimulate growth. Another benefit is that keratin is insoluble in water. This prevents the protein from being washed off. Incidentally, keratin is found in sheep’s wool. The scientists discovered that, when paired with minerals in saliva, a substance just as strong as enamel is formed.

The scientists are excited about the prospect of this new toothpaste. Sara Gamea, PhD researcher at King’s College London and first author of the study, said, “Keratin offers a transformative alternative to current dental treatments.” It does not contain any chemicals, which many other toothpastes do. This excludes the risk of having harmful chemicals in the toothpaste. Additionally, the new toothpaste can be made from human hair, creating less damage to the environment’s resources. Scientists expect the toothpaste to hit the shelves in about two to three years.

Sources:

https://newsforkids.net/articles/2025/09/04/scientists-create-toothpaste-with-wool/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9qy0w27213o

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/toothpaste-made-from-hair-provides-natural-root-to-repair-teeth