Scientists discover way to 'grow' tooth enamel

[Judi Lynn]

Experts produce clusters of enamel-like calcium phosphate to crack age-old problem
Nicola Davis
@NicolaKSDavis
Fri 30 Aug 2019 14.00 EDT Last modified on Fri 30 Aug 2019 14.01 EDT

Scientists say they have finally cracked the problem of repairing tooth enamel.

Though enamel is the hardest tissue in the body, it cannot self-repair. Now scientists have discovered a method by which its complex structure can be reproduced and the enamel essentially “grown” back.

The team behind the research say the materials are cheap and can be prepared on a large scale. “After intensive discussion with dentists, we believe that this new method can be widely used in future,” said Dr Zhaoming Liu, co-author of the research from Zhejiang University in China.

Tooth decay is extremely common: according to 2016 figures about 2.4 billion people worldwide live with caries in permanent teeth, while 486 million children have decay in their milk teeth.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/aug/30/scientists-grow-tooth-enamel

[Prosper]

1. pH of the mouth is secret

to healthy teeth.

American Dental Association › chew...
Web results
Chewing Gum - American Dental Association
Jul 12, 2019 · Chewing sugar-free gum has been shown to increase the flow of saliva, thereby reducing plaque acid, strengthening the teeth and reducing tooth decay.

I tell all of my friends that have children to monitor and correct acidity in their children’s mouthed. There are a multitude of test strips cheap and available to detect acidity. Don’t waste your time asking the pharmacy for litmus paper.

[packman]

2. Yah, I read the article with high hopes - BUT

not workable now, perhaps in the future.