{"id":13220,"date":"2025-02-09T23:12:46","date_gmt":"2025-02-09T23:12:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diigital.press\/?p=13220"},"modified":"2025-02-09T23:12:46","modified_gmt":"2025-02-09T23:12:46","slug":"attention-parents-you-might-want-to-hold-on-to-your-kids-baby-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/otrxio.com\/?p=13220","title":{"rendered":"Attention, Parents! You Might Want To Hold On To Your Kids\u2019 Baby Teeth"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Cryopreservation of\u00a0stem cells may sound like science fiction, but I assure you, it is not. According to scientists, baby teeth have stem cells that help regenerate various parts of the body, so one day, these tiny teeth could save lives. Some parents have taken this to\u00a0heart\u00a0and have started storing their children\u2019s teeth for the future. This is called\u00a0<em>tooth banking<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-are-stem-cells\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are Stem Cells?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-47094\" src=\"https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/shutterstock_1891662991.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/shutterstock_1891662991.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/shutterstock_1891662991-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/shutterstock_1891662991-768x432.jpg 768w\" alt=\"Human macro stem cells system concept\" width=\"1000\" height=\"562\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Stem cells are the cells that every\u00a0organ\u00a0and tissue in our body begins growing from. They are different because of their ability to regenerate, divide, and repair the human body. There are two main sources of stem cells (1):<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Embryos: Formed during the blastocyst phase of embryological development, also known as embryonic stem cells.<\/li>\n<li>Adult tissue, aka adult stem cells<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Both are characterized by their potency and potential to turn into other types of cells like\u00a0muscle\u00a0or bone. The stem cells found in baby teeth are known as SHED cells and have slightly different properties than the other kinds.\u00a0<em>\u201cThe SHED cells seem to make not only dentin but also something that is similar to bone,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0says Dr. Pamela Robey, chief of the branch of the craniofacial and skeletal disease of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. (2)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-biological-insurance\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Biological insurance<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/DuSOBQGNXuU\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-46958\" src=\"https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-377.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 842px) 100vw, 842px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-377.png 842w, https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-377-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-377-768x430.png 768w\" alt=\"stem cell youtube\" width=\"842\" height=\"471\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Credit:\u00a0Youtube<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Baby teeth are a source of stem cells like bone marrow and can be saved as a form of biological insurance. That said, scientists, doctors, and dentists are still divided as to whether or not it is worth doing right now.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>\u201cRight now, I don\u2019t think it is a logical thing to do. That\u2019s my personal opinion,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0says Dr. Robey.\u00a0<em>\u201cThat\u2019s not to say that in the future, somebody could come up with a method that would make them very beneficial,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(3)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h5 id=\"h-potential-applications-of-stem-cells-include-2-3\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Potential applications of stem cells include (2,\u00a03):<\/h5>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Regeneration of dental pulp<\/li>\n<li>Whole tooth regeneration<\/li>\n<li>Repair damaged cells from chemotherapy or disease<\/li>\n<li>Treat blood-related diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, and multiple myeloma<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Stem cells from baby teeth have yet to actually be tested out on the last two items on that list, however, that\u2019s not to say that in the future they could be. (4)<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>\u201cThe science is strong enough to show it\u2019s not science fiction,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0said American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry President Dr. Jade Miller.\u00a0<em>\u201cThere\u2019s going to be a significant application, and I want to give my grandkids the opportunity to have those options.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"wp-block-create-block-wp-read-more-block\" data-id=\"wp-read-more-block\">\n<h2 id=\"h-baby-teeth-cryopreservation-aka-tooth-banking\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Baby Teeth Cryopreservation aka \u2018Tooth Banking\u2019<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-47096\" src=\"https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/shutterstock_1945378738.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/shutterstock_1945378738.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/shutterstock_1945378738-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/shutterstock_1945378738-768x512.jpg 768w\" alt=\"close-up the face of a smiling, happy girl with her first baby tooth just fallen out in her mother's hand.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: Shuttersstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Though the research still has a long way to go, dentists and stem cell researchers have teamed up to create stem cell banks for teeth. Examples of these include\u00a0Store-A-Tooth\u00a0and\u00a0ToothBank. You ship the teeth to their lab, where they extract the stem cells. Next, they store them in a culture where the cells can grow. Then those cells are taken and put into cryopreservation. (4)<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re interested in storing your children\u2019s teeth, get ready for some serious sticker shock: Store-A-Tooth requires a $1,747 upfront fee and then an additional $120 yearly fee. Scientists have no way of predicting when the research and technology to actually use those stem cells will be ready. This means you could spend a lot of money on something that you will never get to benefit from. (4)<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-further-stem-cell-research-needed\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Further Stem Cell Research Needed<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/dR5oo6BLRJE\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-46960\" src=\"https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-379.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 842px) 100vw, 842px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-379.png 842w, https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-379-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/secretlifeofmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-379-768x430.png 768w\" alt=\"baby teeth youtube\" width=\"842\" height=\"471\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Credit:\u00a0Youtube<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Some encouraging processes have been made, including a 2018 trial conducted by the\u00a0Univerity of Pennsylvania. The trial demonstrated that dental tissue can be generated using stem cells from baby teeth (5,6). However, most experts agree it\u2019s still far too early to consider dental pulp stem cells as a source of cells for replacing or regenerating tissue. But the potential is there because scientists already know that dental pulp can make bone. As more research is done, we might be getting closer to the real potential of this young technology.<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cryopreservation of\u00a0stem cells may sound like science fiction, but I assure you, it is not. According to scientists, baby teeth have stem cells that help regenerate various parts of the body, so one day, these tiny teeth could save lives. Some parents have taken this to\u00a0heart\u00a0and have started storing their children\u2019s teeth for the future. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13221,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/otrxio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/otrxio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/otrxio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/otrxio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/otrxio.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13220"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/otrxio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13220\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/otrxio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/otrxio.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/otrxio.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/otrxio.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}