Naturally shed baby teeth may hold the key to understanding how early-life exposures shape health
· Medical Xpressedited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan
Sadie Harley
Scientific Editor
Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process
Robert Egan
Associate Editor
Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process Editors' notes
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
fact-checked
trusted source
proofread
The GIST Add as preferred source
"Primary teeth provide a unique timeline of early life," Dr. Synnøve Stokke Jensen at the University of Bergen says. "They preserve information from pregnancy and childhood that cannot be captured retrospectively in other ways. This allows us to investigate environmental exposures during sensitive developmental periods with unprecedented detail."
Using data and biological samples from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) and the world's largest biobank of primary teeth, MoBaTooth biobank, Stokke Jensen's doctoral research shows that primary teeth can serve as a detailed biological archive of exposures occurring during critical stages of human development.
The findings open new opportunities for researchers studying how environmental factors influence children's health and neurodevelopment.
Three studies from tooth biomarkers
The doctoral thesis brings together three studies examining biomarkers measured in human primary teeth.
The first study established reference levels for a broad range of trace elements in children's primary teeth, demonstrating that tooth dentin can be used to reconstruct exposure patterns from prenatal life through early childhood.
The second study showed a strong relationship between lead levels in mothers during pregnancy and lead levels preserved in their children's primary teeth. The findings confirm that primary teeth can provide a reliable record of fetal exposure to environmental contaminants.
The third study explored trace-element patterns in children with and without autism spectrum disorder. The results identified differences in certain prenatal and early-life exposure profiles, highlighting the potential of tooth biomarkers as a tool for investigating environmental influences on neurodevelopment.
A stable record of exposure
Together, the studies demonstrate the scientific value of primary teeth as biomarkers in epidemiological research. Because teeth develop layer by layer, much like tree rings, and are very stable, they preserve a chronological record of exposure to both essential nutrients and environmental contaminants during key developmental windows.
The research is based on samples from the MoBaTooth Biobank, the world's largest collection of naturally shed primary teeth linked to comprehensive health and environmental data.
"These findings strengthen the role of primary teeth as an innovative research tool for understanding how early-life environments may shape health across the lifespan," Stokke Jensen says.
Dr. Synnøve Stokke Jensen submitted and defended her thesis, Biomarkers in Human Primary teeth in Epidemiological Research, at the University of Bergen in Norway. The main supervisor was the leader of MoBaTooth Biobank, Professor Kristin S. Klock.
More information
Synnøve Stokke Jensen, Biomarkers in human primary teeth in epidemiological research : The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort study (MoBa) and the MoBaTooth Biobank. hdl.handle.net/11250/5324792
Key medical concepts
BiomarkersTooth, DeciduousLeadTrace ElementsAutism Spectrum Disorder
Clinical categories
Children's healthPediatricsLaboratory medicine Provided by University of Bergen Who's behind this story?
Sadie Harley
BSc Life Sciences & Ecology. Microbiology lab background with pharmaceutical news experience in oil, gas, and renewable industries. Full profile →
Robert Egan
Bachelor's in mathematical biology, Master's in creative writing. Well-traveled with unique perspectives on science and language. Full profile →
Citation: Naturally shed baby teeth may hold the key to understanding how early-life exposures shape health (2026, June 23) retrieved 23 June 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-naturally-baby-teeth-key-early.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.