Just admit it. Whenever you go to the dentist, you always
claim to floss at least once a day, but the reality is you seldom ever take the
miniscule time out of your day to stick the annoying nylon string in between
your teeth to watch your gums bleed. I know it, you know it, and the dentist
who cleans your teeth and notices the buildup of plaque in between your pearly
whites knows it: we all hate flossing.
Trying to use the mirror and figure out what angle to put our
hands at in ordered to reach every nook and cranny with the floss seems to be
too time consuming and arduous. Most of the time, it just does not seem worth
enduring the pain and struggle. We would rather not floss and face the
consequences of cavities, gum disease, and maybe even tooth loss. But do not
worry. There is hope. A new study has brought us one step closer to human tooth
regeneration, by shedding light on how sharks regrow their fleshing ripping
incisors.
Sharks can have up to 3,000 teeth at one time, compared to
the average human’s 32 (Whiteman 1). Scientists have long known that sharks
have the unusual but advantageous ability to regrow their teeth indefinitely,
although the genetics behind the underlying process have been uncertain.
Recently, Dr. Gareth Fraser has identified a network of genes that are
responsible for tooth development and lifelong tooth regeneration in sharks
(Whiteman 1). Humans possess the same genes, and further study could help new
treatments for tooth loss, maybe even the ability to fully regrow a tooth.
A team of scientists led by Dr. Fraser identified patterns from
several genes of catsharks that led to the formation of dental lamina, which is
found to drive tooth development and regeneration in the sharks (Whiteman 2).
Luckily to our anti-flossing selves, humans also possess the same genes that
spur the formation of dental lamina. The findings of these genes in sharks
indicate that it could be possible to trigger tooth regeneration in humans.
Although these discoveries seem hopeful, I feel as though
they may not be attainable. Making human tooth regeneration would involving
editing the genome, which we have come close to, but have not fully been
successful. If tooth regeneration does become possible, it more than likely
will not be during a time when it could be helpful for us personally. It is
time for us to conjure up the courage and start flossing.
![[A shark]](http://cdn1.medicalnewstoday.com/content/images/articles/306/306583/shark.jpg)
Reference:
Whiteman, Honor. Medical News Today. MediLexicon
International, 15 Feb. 2016. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.
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ReplyDeleteAs great as a finding as this is, I couldn't imagine if humans were able to regenerate their lost teeth! I fear that the general brushing of teeth would cease and I'm glad that we probably won't be alive to see that. Hopefully, this will not be the case and the only cause of tooth loss would come from lack of flossing, but I guess only time will tell.
ReplyDeleteThis blog is crazy because I can definitely relate to the whole concept of doing everything right for my teeth, with the exception of flossing! Flossing is one of those things that many people including myself look past, assuming that brushing more than well enough will do the trick.
ReplyDeleteWow, this is crazy! I cannot believe that we have the same gene as sharks that allows them to regenerate their teeth. It's a scary thought to me to be able to regenerate teeth like sharks do, as they have three or four rows of teeth. If I saw someone with multiple rows of teeth I'd be somewhat frightened. It's a cool thought, medical wise, but also scary when you think about it.
ReplyDeleteI definitely do not floss as much as I should! So it's definitely comforting to know that progress is being made in the tooth regeneration realm. While I do agree that whole-tooth regeneration is probably not feasible in the near future, I think that this kind research could really help with other oral issues. However, I don't think that denture companies will appreciate this research as much as we do!
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to start flossing to prevent cavities, but I just can't seem to keep up the habit. It would be interesting to see if there was a way for us to regenerate teeth lost to disease or lack of care. I do, however, also agree with Rachel in that many companies would see this as a potential loss of revenue, so it probably wouldn't be well received.
ReplyDeleteAs a pre-dentistry student, I am a strong advocate for the flossing of teeth. However, during my shadowing at several clinics in Cincinnati, I have seen the effects of poor dental care resulting in multiple tooth extractions. In cases like these it would be advantageous to be able to regrow teeth. If possible, this would be a much better match and easier process for the patient compared to dentures.
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