Teeth Repaired with Sheep’s Wool? Scientists Say Yes

What if your next dental treatment didn’t come from a drill or resin, but from a sheep’s haircut?

That’s the surprising idea behind a new study where scientists discovered that keratin, a protein found in wool, hair, skin, and fingernails, can actually repair tooth enamel and help prevent decay.

How It Works

Enamel is the hard outer layer of teeth that protects them from cavities and pain. But once enamel is gone, it never grows back — unlike bones or hair. This is why tooth decay is such a serious problem, affecting more than 2 billion people worldwide.

Researchers from King’s College London extracted keratin from sheep’s wool and applied it to teeth. What happened next was remarkable:

• The keratin formed a crystal-like coating on the tooth.
• This coating looked and behaved like natural enamel.
• Over time, it attracted calcium and phosphate from saliva, building a stronger protective layer.

In other words, keratin gave the tooth a chance to “heal” itself.

Why It’s a Big Deal

Traditional dental fillings often use plastic resins, which can be toxic, less durable, and don’t look natural. Keratin, on the other hand, is sustainably sourced from biological waste (like wool or even human hair) and can closely match the color of real teeth.

“It offers a transformative alternative to current dental treatments,” said Sara Gamea, one of the study’s authors.

What’s Next?

Scientists say keratin-based tooth treatments could appear within the next two to three years. Possible options include:

• Keratin toothpaste for daily enamel repair.
• Professional keratin coatings applied by dentists.

Imagine walking out of the salon with not just a haircut, but also a bag of “waste” hair that could one day help people keep their teeth strong. As researcher Sherif Elsharkawy put it: “We may soon be growing stronger, healthier smiles from something as simple as a haircut.”