A team of scientists in London may have found a way to repair tooth enamel using an ingredient found in an unexpected place: human hair.

Researchers at King’s College London experimented with keratin, the same natural protein found in hair, skin and nails, on teeth. In lab tests, the system “has shown potential in repairing early defective dental enamel lesions, restoring both optical appearance and mechanical properties,” potentially offering a future in reversing cavities.

Daily habits like sipping acidic drinks or skipping proper brushing gradually erode enamel, causing sensitivity and tooth loss, the study explains. While fluoride can only slow the damage, the keratin-based formula in the new study stopped it entirely in lab tests.

Researchers harvested keratin from wool, and

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