Researchers have developed a fluoride-free gel that could help rebuild damaged tooth enamel, something the body cannot naturally replace once it is lost. Inspired by the proteins that guide enamel formation in infancy, the gel fills microscopic cracks and draws calcium and phosphate from saliva to grow a new mineral layer that closely matches healthy enamel.
Of course, just like natural enamel, the new gel needs to perform in pretty inhospitable environments, with all the chomping and chewing and biting we do. So the research team recreated these scenarios to test the materialâs durability.
âWe have tested the mechanical properties of these regenerated tissues under conditions simulating âreal-life situationsâ such as tooth brushing, chewing, and exposure to acidic foods,â Hasan said in a press statement, âand found that the regenerated enamel behaves just like healthy enamel.â
The researchers have already formed a start-up company with the hope of getting their gel into commercial use as early as next year, joining other researchers who have boldly claimed we could soon regrow entire teeth in just a few years. Soon, cavities may no longer be a life sentence.
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