--- title: "Nottingham scientists develop a fluoride-free gel that could regrow lost tooth enamel" description: "Enamel cannot repair itself, but a new gel tested on extracted human teeth rebuilt it to match the healthy original in lab tests." url: https://lifestyle-health.skoop.news/goodbye-cavities-scientists-create-gel-that-could-regrow-too-b1b7b4/ published: 2026-11-06T03:46:26.018236-05:00 modified: 2026-11-06T03:46:26.018245-05:00 section: "Lifestyle & Health" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["University of Nottingham", "Biomedical Engineering & Biomaterials", "Department of Chemical", "Professor Alvaro Mata", "School of Pharmacy", "Abshar Hasan", "Chair", "Mintech-Bio", "health"] hashtags: ["#UniversityOfNottingham", "#DepartmentOfChemical", "#Health", "#lifestyle", "#wellness"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/West_Pomeranian_University_of_Technology_in_Szczecin%2C_Faculty_of_Civil_and_Environmental_Engineering%2C_June_2022.jpg/1280px-West_Pomeranian_University_of_Technology_in_Szczecin%2C_Faculty_of_Civil_and_Environmental_Engineering%2C_June_2022.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # Nottingham scientists develop a fluoride-free gel that could regrow lost tooth enamel > Enamel cannot repair itself, but a new gel tested on extracted human teeth rebuilt it to match the healthy original in lab tests. Published 2026-11-06 · Updated 2026-11-06 · Lifestyle & Health, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - Scientists at the University of Nottingham developed a gel that could regrow lost tooth enamel. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) - Enamel is made from hydroxyapatite, a naturally occurring calcium phosphate mineral, and is the hardest material in the human body. [[2]](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a73438503/rebuild-tooth-enamel/) - The gel is inspired by the biological processes that form tooth enamel during early childhood. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) ## A gel for damage once considered permanent Scientists at the University of Nottingham developed a gel that could regrow lost tooth enamel. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) Enamel cannot naturally regenerate once it has been lost, unlike bones and many other tissues, so the finding matters to anyone whose enamel has worn down. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) The research came from the university's School of Pharmacy and Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) Professor Alvaro Mata, Chair in Biomedical Engineering & Biomaterials at the University of Nottingham, led the study. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) Dr. Abshar Hasan, a postdoctoral fellow, is the lead author. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) ## Why enamel is hard to replace Enamel is made from hydroxyapatite, a naturally occurring calcium phosphate mineral, and is the hardest material in the human body. [[2]](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a73438503/rebuild-tooth-enamel/) Its exceptional hardness and durability come from the precise arrangement of its mineral crystals. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) Enamel has no living cells capable of rebuilding it after teeth have fully developed. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) Existing treatments such as fluoride varnishes and remineralization products cannot fully reconstruct enamel that has already been lost. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) Current cavity treatments use composite resin, ceramic, or silver amalgam fillings that act as a permanent patch. [[2]](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a73438503/rebuild-tooth-enamel/) ## How the gel works The gel is inspired by the biological processes that form tooth enamel during early childhood. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) It uses a material made from proteins that imitates characteristics of the natural proteins that guide enamel formation when teeth first develop. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) Those proteins are elastin-like recombinamers, which are lab-engineered proteins. [[3]](https://www.gadgetreview.com/a-new-protein-gel-could-regrow-damaged-tooth-enamel) Once applied, the gel forms a thin but durable coating that penetrates the tooth's surface and fills microscopic cracks and gaps. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) The regrowth relies on calcium and phosphate ions naturally present in saliva. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) The process is called epitaxial mineralization, in which new mineral crystals grow in alignment with existing enamel. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) The gel contains no fluoride. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) ## What the lab tests showed In lab tests simulating brushing, chewing and acidic foods, the regenerated enamel displayed mechanical properties comparable to healthy natural enamel. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) The regenerated tissue matched healthy enamel in hardness, stiffness, toughness, and wear resistance. [[3]](https://www.gadgetreview.com/a-new-protein-gel-could-regrow-damaged-tooth-enamel) Hasan said the regenerated enamel behaves just like healthy enamel. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) Mata said the technology is safe, can be easily and rapidly applied, and is scalable. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) The gel is designed to repair enamel weakened by mineral loss or worn away by erosion, and to reinforce enamel that remains healthy. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) It is also designed to be safe, simple to apply, and suitable for manufacturing on a larger scale. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) ## Limits of the research The gel's regrowth was tested on extracted human teeth in a lab, not yet in living mouths. [[3]](https://www.gadgetreview.com/a-new-protein-gel-could-regrow-damaged-tooth-enamel) The laboratory results do not yet establish how well the treatment will perform over extended periods in patients. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) Commercialization efforts are linked to the startup Mintech-Bio. [[3]](https://www.gadgetreview.com/a-new-protein-gel-could-regrow-damaged-tooth-enamel) ## What it means for you Enamel deterioration is a major factor in tooth decay and contributes to dental problems affecting nearly half of the world's population. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) When enamel wears away or gums recede, exposed dentine can make teeth sensitive to hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods and drinks. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) Poor oral health is also associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) If the gel reaches patients, dentists could apply it directly to teeth using a procedure similar to existing fluoride treatments. [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) For now, the results come from extracted teeth in a lab, and long-term performance in patients is not yet established. [[3]](https://www.gadgetreview.com/a-new-protein-gel-could-regrow-damaged-tooth-enamel) [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) ## Sources 1. [Goodbye, cavities? Scientists create gel that could regrow tooth enamel](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261104005059.htm) — ScienceDaily 2. [Scientists Just Found a Way to Regrow Your Tooth Enamel—And It Could Be Available Next Year](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a73438503/rebuild-tooth-enamel/) — Popular Mechanics 3. [A New Protein Gel Could Regrow Damaged Tooth Enamel - Gadget Review](https://www.gadgetreview.com/a-new-protein-gel-could-regrow-damaged-tooth-enamel) — Gadget Review Image: Photo: Szczecinolog / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:West_Pomeranian_University_of_Technology_in_Szczecin,_Faculty_of_Civil_and_Environmental_Engineering,_June_2022.jpg) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/