Stem cells have been in the news for a few years now. These cells can grow more cells of a similar type and can help in regeneration of cells and tissues. Stem cells are used to overcome many serious illnesses like cancer and can also help in the regeneration of dental tissues. They can repair neural damage and fight pathogenic autoimmune disorders.
You can derive and store stem cells from the placenta, umbilical cord blood, bone marrow, and even your child’s teeth. It is convenient for you to get the teeth stored as the first baby teeth tend to fall at a young age. These teeth can then be frozen and stored for stem cell extraction later.1
Why You Should Store Stem Cells
1. Stem Cells Regenerate Dental Tissue
Teeth are complex sensory organs that perform the important functions of speech and chewing to aid digestion. They are the structures that give you a beautiful smile. The first baby teeth prepare a kid to eat foods of different textures. These teeth fall when the oral structure is fully developed to be replaced by stronger, permanent adult teeth. We tend to throw away the primary teeth or hold on to it just for a day so that the tooth fairy can visit!
The dental tissues in these teeth serve a very important purpose. They are an abundant source of stem cells that can be obtained with ease and can treat future injuries or potential health risks. They can also be used to regenerate dental tissues. The dental tissues cannot repair themselves on their own if damaged, which is why you require stem cells.2
2. Stem Cells Provide Dental Therapy
Stem cell population is found abundantly in a naturally extracted tooth. Preferably, these cells should be extracted from the deciduous or primary teeth of a child as the child is more active and healthy at a young age. Tooth repair, restoration, and regeneration are obviously difficult procedures and cannot guarantee a permanent solution as the dental tissues cannot be treated for permanent damage. Anyone who has ever had a root canal will agree!
Different types of stem cells extracted from primary teeth can be combined to induce tooth formation in dental therapy. They are also helpful in the regeneration of ligaments lost in dental diseases like the periodontal disease. They restore vital tissues that are surgically removed because of infection. Stem cells in the growing root play an important role in tooth function and development and hence assist in the regeneration and restoration of dental structures later in life.3
3. Stem Cells Treat Autoimmune Disorders
Autoimmune disorders are abnormal conditions that are quite difficult to treat wherein the body attacks its own tissues and causes extreme cell damage. An autoimmune disorder called the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a condition characterized by severe joint pain and fatigue. It is an inflammatory disease that can be effectively treated by the transplantation of stem cells extracted from deciduous or primary teeth.
The stem cells prevent pathogenic autoimmunity by suppressing the production of inflammatory cells that are responsible for the autoimmune disease. They are also helpful in treating degenerative diseases like diabetes and other endocrine disorders. They are found to be effective in the process of bone remodeling in adults, wherein new bone structures are created and old bones are removed, which naturally occurs in growing children.4
4. Stem Cells Limit Neurological Damage
Spinal cord injury can render you permanently disabled as the loss of neurons can limit the regenerating capability of the organ after an injury. The transplantation of stem cells in the spinal cord can help recover function in the limbs. The stem cells that are transplanted can induce cell replacement to repair the loss of neural cells, thus restoring the functional ability.
As the stem cells extracted from deciduous teeth are self-renewing in nature, they can help in the regeneration of neural cells. Hence, they are considered as an effective therapy to promote functional recovery in neurological disorders and injuries.5 Dental stem cells also aid in vasculogenesis, which is the process of forming blood vessels. They can help treat diseases like ischemia, a condition where blood supply is restricted, which then impairs cellular metabolism and causes a heart attack due to decreased blood supply to the heart.6
Now you know why it’s a good idea to stock up on stem cells from your kids. Who knew that a commonly discarded item could have such significant benefits!
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