The tooth fairy could soon face competition for baby teeth from scientists who have discovered the teeth are a source of stem cells. The cells could help repair damaged teeth and perhaps even treat neural injuries or degenerative diseases.

Currently, researchers can isolate two types of stem cells. Embryonic stem cells can develop into any cell in the body, but their harvesting requires the destruction of embryos, which pro-life groups oppose. Adult stem cells avoid this problem, but have more limited abilities. Now it appears that the stem cells from children's lost teeth could provide an intermediate and easily accessible source.


View: Full Article | Source: Yahoo News

That is such good news!
One of my favorite slogans is:
ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH ~ RECYCLE!


btw ~ today is EARTH DAY

HAPPY EARTH DAY EVERYONE
I know how sick this sounds, but I kept my kids baby teeth (spiritual reasons). I might just be able to get all that tooth fairy money back now

not really, Kismit. i think those cells are dead by now

so, does anyone believe someday there will be in each town a baby tooth harvesting operation? this seems a bit outlandish to me, all for 10+ stem cells.

Kismit, I have all my kids teeth too, sentimental reasons. I couldn't throw away any part of them

Maybe the "myth" of the Tooth Fairy arises from the reality that baby teeth are worth something? Maybe the myth is a distant memory from some now vanished advanced civilization?

I'd like to know how widespread the myth of the Tooth Fairy really is..