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Dennis
Hello, Wowzers, it's me, Dennis. And before we start the show, did you hear about March Gladness? Reggie? No, not basketball tournament stuff. March Gladness tournament stuff. Yeah, exactly. March Gladness is where I think of all the things that made me the gladdest this month. And then I put them head to head in a tournament style bracket. Oh, so you do know what I'm talking about. Well then, as you know, the winner of my March Gladness tournament was my new haircut. Do you love it?
Tommy
What do you mean?
Dennis
Don't worry, it'll grow back.
Tommy
Whatever.
Dennis
Wowzerfams, you too can fill out your very own March gladness bracket by going to tinkercast.com march there you can print your very own free March gladness bracket. Then fill it out to see what made you the gladys this month. Put your favorite things head to head in a tournament of gladness one more time. That's Tinkercast.com March. Now let's get on with the show
Tommy
proceeded.
Fingerling
Three, two, one.
Tommy
Get ready for an adventure of magnificent proport. I don't know what you've been told, but we're in a golden age. So many discoveries that are jumping off the page. While we in the world Wild in the world While we in the world Wild in the world World in the world
Fingerling
Houston.
Mindy
And then I said, this is the last time I share my hot dog with the raccoon.
Guy Raz
Is not where I thought this story was going.
Fingerling
No, I never trust the trash.
Mindy
Yeah, but at the same time, raccoons are so cute that they.
Tommy
They.
Guy Raz
Is that Dennis?
Fingerling
Dentist? Where?
Guy Raz
No, not dentist. Dennis over there on his rollerblades.
G Force
Hi, Mindy.
Tommy
Hi, guy.
Dennis
Raz.
Fingerling
Whoa. That fella. I didn't know he was a dentist. I should have him take a look at my chompers. Does this look like a cavity to you all or just a normal tooth hole?
G Force
That's nasty.
Mindy
Dennis, come over here. We're just hanging out in front of my gingerbread mansion.
Tommy
Coming.
Dennis
Hey, everyone. Oh, hey, Tommy. Is that a new cavity?
Tommy
Aha.
Fingerling
Ah, I knew it was a cavity also. Thank you for noticing.
G Force
Feller, close your mouth. Fingerling.
Guy Raz
Hi, Dennis. Where are you coming from?
Dennis
Well, I could tell you, yes, but I'd rather take off my helmet and let you see for yourself.
Tommy
Huh?
Dennis
Check this out. Ta da.
G Force
Oh, wow. Yeah, come on.
Fingerling
Maybe keep that helmet on, fella.
Dennis
So what do you think of my new haircut? Do I look like a little prince?
Guy Raz
A little prince?
Dennis
Yeah, handsome like a little prince from a storybook.
Mindy
Well, it certainly looks like something all Right.
G Force
Boy, your hair is shaped like your helmet.
Dennis
I know. Isn't it? So, so cool. So round.
Guy Raz
Yeah, it sure is cool, Dennis. Check it out.
Dennis
Not only is it shaped like a helmet, my stylist put a bunch of hair gel in it, so it's also hard like a helmet.
Fingerling
Ooh, can I see?
Dennis
Uh huh.
Fingerling
Oh, yeah. That's CPSC certified. That's what that is.
G Force
Certifiably Strange.
Dennis
Oh, that's the name of the salon. Certifiably Strange.
Mindy
Well, I think it looks very nice, Dennis, even if it is shaped like your rollerblading helmet.
Dennis
Thanks, Mindy. Let's just say my hairstylist understood the assignment.
Fingerling
So what'd you do with all the hairs you cut off?
Dennis
Oh, I just left them there on the floor. They're probably in a dumpster by now.
G Force
Chicken slippers. Not the dump.
Tommy
Huh? What?
Dennis
That's what I do with all my hair clippings and my toenail clippings and my What?
Fingerling
Don't do that. You gotta put the clippings under your pillow for the hair fairy.
Guy Raz
Hair clippings?
G Force
Yeah, and toenail clippings, too.
Fingerling
And scabs.
G Force
No, that's the Scab Genie. The hairy fairy and the toenail goblin are only in the business of hairs and toenails.
Fingerling
Oh, right.
Guy Raz
I'm sorry.
Mindy
Hairy fairy, toenail goblin.
Guy Raz
I've never heard of these.
Mindy
Yeah, me neither.
Dennis
Me three.
G Force
Can you believe this, Fingerling? They never heard of the hairy fairy or the toenail goblin?
Fingerling
No, I can't. Listen, you youngsters, it's real simple. When you get a haircut, you take the clippings and you put them under your pillow. All right? There we go.
G Force
And the hairy fairy breaks into your house. The hairy fairy's here.
Fingerling
And he squeezes his way through a tiny keyhole.
Tommy
Ouch.
G Force
And then he creeps into your bedroom. While you're busy sleeping in sawing logs. The hairy fairy wants to go find hair under your pillow.
Fingerling
And he steals all your hair out from under your pillow.
G Force
Oh, yeah. So much hair, but never off your head.
Fingerling
Yep. Swipes it right there from under the pillow while you're sleeping.
G Force
Yeah, this is all my hair now. It wouldn't even know he was there.
Fingerling
Except for the fact that if your hair clippings are nice and strong, he'll leave you a special treat.
G Force
Like a yacht.
Dennis
What?
G Force
Hush, boys.
Fingerling
But if your hair is all weak and damaged and full of split ends, it'll leave you a boiled egg.
Mindy
A boiled egg?
Tommy
Why?
G Force
I don't know. Why don't you ask all the stinking eggs under my pillow.
Guy Raz
You've been leaving the eggs under your pillow?
G Force
Isn kind of. It is very lumpy.
Mindy
And what does the hairy fairy do with all the hair clippings he steals?
Fingerling
Oh, well, he wads the hair up into a little ball and shoves him in his mouth and uses them to scrub his teeth.
Mindy
The hairy fairy scrubs his teeth with hair?
G Force
From those who believe in the hairy fairy. You ever scrub your teeth with a ball of hair? Garage.
Dennis
What?
Tommy
No.
Mindy
Wait a minute. This is all starting to make sense.
Guy Raz
It is.
Mindy
It is.
Guy Raz
Say more.
Mindy
Well, I just read this fascinating new scientific study on how hair could be the future of dental care.
G Force
Will wrote me up and called me doggy.
Fingerling
I knew that Harry Fairy was onto something this whole time.
Mindy
No, really. I just read about it in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials, A scientific study
Guy Raz
on how hair on our heads can help the teeth in our mouths.
Mindy
Bonker balls.
G Force
I know.
Guy Raz
Yeah.
Mindy
See, researchers from King's College in London discovered that the stuff that makes up our hair and our fingernails could one day be used to fix our teeth.
Dennis
Really? What kind of stuff makes up my hair? Dandruff?
Mindy
No, the stuff inside your hair.
Guy Raz
Ah, Keratin.
Mindy
Yes, exactly. Guy Raz.
G Force
I knew there was a carrot in my hair.
Fingerling
Probably why it tastes so good.
Mindy
No, not carrots. Keratin with a K. It's a protein. Basically the building blocks of hair and nails and even skin.
Dennis
Someone better tell the toenail goblin and scab genie about this.
Mindy
Anywho, these scientists discovered that this keratin that makes up our hair can also help to repair the enamel on our teeth.
G Force
I do not know who that is.
Guy Raz
No. Tooth enamel. It's that super hard shield on the outside of our teeth.
Mindy
Yeah, and it's the hardest material in our bodies, and we have it on our teeth to protect them.
Guy Raz
And while it may be a super hard protective shield for our teeth, it can still be damaged.
Mindy
Yeah, things like drinking too much soda and eating too much candy and grinding our teeth at night while we sleep. These things can all wear our enamel down over time.
Guy Raz
And once that protective enamel is gone, it can never grow back.
Mindy
And that is bad news for teeth.
Fingerling
Oh, hey, maybe that's what happened to your teeth. G Force.
Guy Raz
You know, I don't think I've ever seen G Force's teeth.
Mindy
Oh, that's because she doesn't smile.
Fingerling
Yeah. GeForce. Say cheese. Show me your little corn cob. Smile.
G Force
Cheese. My teeth are just corn.
Guy Raz
Now you really do need to see a dentist or maybe eat a Bag of hair.
Fingerling
Oh, that's a good idea.
Guy Raz
I don't think that eating hair is the solution that these scientists found.
Mindy
Yeah, dolphinitely not.
Dennis
Well, what did they find, Mindy?
Mindy
Well, what these scientists decided to do discovered was that on the teeth, when keratin, that protein found in hair, mixes with the minerals in our saliva or spit, it begins to form this protective crystal coating. And this coating keeps pulling in other good stuff, like calcium, to help it to continue to grow stronger and harder.
Guy Raz
And so I'm guessing that this crystal coating works a lot like real tooth enamel, right? Patching up the weak spots and stopping caffeine before they start.
Mindy
Yes, and not only that, but when these researchers tested it in their labs, they discovered that this crystal keratin coating was five to six times stronger than the plastic resin coating that dentists use now.
Dennis
So, strong like my hair helmet?
Mindy
Yeah, it's definitely not strong enough to protect your whole head, but eventually, when it's added to things like toothpaste or mouthwash or a tooth shield gel polish, it can. It could be strong enough to protect our teeth.
G Force
Or my mouth corns.
Guy Raz
Your what?
Fingerling
Her corns. GeForce wants to know if milk and hair for this carrot juice can make a shield for her little corn cob mouth.
Guy Raz
Yeah, again, you really need to see a dentist about that.
G Force
Whatever.
Tommy
Mindy?
Mindy
Yes, Dennis?
Dennis
I have a question.
Mindy
Okay, let's hear it.
Dennis
Mother says that if I get fluoride at the dentist and also brush my teeth with fluoride, I'll keep my teeth nice and strong.
Mindy
Well, it's true that fluoride does help to strengthen and protect your tooth enamel, but it can't completely prevent it from wearing down over time.
Guy Raz
So, Mindy, you're saying that this keratin can help to stop damage to our tooth enamel and prevent cavities or holes in our teeth once and for all?
Mindy
Well, that's what the findings in this study suggest. And what's even more. Wow. Is that instead of using plastic or chemicals on our teeth like dentists have to do now, they'll soon be able to use a material found on our own heads.
Fingerling
Wow. Hair toothpaste.
Dennis
Ew. I don't like that.
Fingerling
Well, if brushing your teeth with hair is good enough for the hair fairy, I say it's good enough for old fingerling.
G Force
I already brush my teeth with my hairbrush.
Guy Raz
Ugh. Why?
Mindy
No, no, no, no. These scientists are not suggesting that they plan to put real human hair directly in our toothpaste.
Fingerling
Aww. Well, what about if they put raw hair Clippings in the mouthwash?
Tommy
Yeah.
Guy Raz
I mean, how do scientists plan to get keratin from hair to toothpaste, Mindy?
Mindy
Well, the process itself is pretty complicated, but basically, the plan is to use special chemical and heat treatments to break down hair and release the keratin proteins.
Guy Raz
Aha. And then I assume they'll purify it by cleaning and filtering it.
Mindy
Exactly. And then they'll refine the keratin protein into a safe, usable powder or gel.
G Force
Oh, okay.
Mindy
And then that keratin powder or gel can be added as an ingredient to toothpaste or mouthwash or an enamel sealer for dentists to use.
Dennis
So no clumps of other people's hair in my mouth?
Mindy
No clumps of hair. Just the secret ingredient found in hair.
Dennis
Hooray.
G Force
Well, I'm ready to go milk some hair.
Guy Raz
So, Mindy, how soon could we start seeing this keratin infused toothpaste?
Mindy
Well, obviously, optimistically, it could be as little as two to three years if all goes well when they test it for safety and taste and know for sure that it works. But realistically, realistically, probably five to 10 years before we see actual keratin toothpaste on the shelves in stores.
G Force
Hold still. Fingerling. Quit wiggling.
Guy Raz
What now?
Tommy
What is happening?
Dennis
Uh, looks like Granny G put Tommy's head in a juicer to squeeze all the keratin out of his hair.
Tommy
What?
Dennis
No.
Guy Raz
Did you listen to anything Mindy just said?
Fingerling
Good thing you had your pocket juicer. G Force, you getting anything out yet?
Tommy
No.
Fingerling
How about now?
Dennis
Oh, maybe you have to cut the hair open to get the magical teeth carrots out again.
Guy Raz
It's keratin.
Mindy
And it's not magic, it's science.
G Force
Well, tell that to the hairy fairy.
Fingerling
Ouch. Gee Force, you're squeezing too hard.
Mindy
Wow in the world. We'll be right back.
Tommy
Grown Ups.
Mindy
This message is for you.
Grown Ups
Hey, Grown ups. Spring is right around the corner. And as schedules fill up with activities and travel, let IXL help you stay on top of your child's learning. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that fits seamlessly into homeschooling. It offers interactive practice in math, language arts, science and social studies for grades Pre K through 12. IXL offers personalized learning for every child and gives parents clear insight into their progress. At Tinkercast. Making learning fun is our bread and butter. So we love that IXL has games, awards and celebrations to keep students motivated and engaged. Make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and wow in the World listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com wow visit ixl.com wow to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.
Mindy
That's it. Back to the show.
Tommy
Wow in the World.
Mindy
Hi, thanks for calling wow in the World. After the beep, get ready to record.
Tommy
Hi, my name is Josie and I'm from Chicago and I'm 8 years old. And my wow in the world is that there's more insects than animals and people combined by. Hi, my name is Sage. And my name is Soya and we live in Oakland, California. Our wow in the world is that monkeys can go bald at old age. Hi, Mindy and Guy. My name is Caleb Trumville in Kanawha. And my wow in the world is that Fossilife poop is called Coprolite. Again, fossilife poop is called Copperlite. Thank you. Bye. Hi, my name is Harper. I am 6 years old and I live in nuance. My fact is, the moon actually isn't a perfect sphere. It's more shaped like a lemon. This is because the gravity of the earth is pulling the moon towards it. I want to say hi to Thomas Fingerling, Reggie Baby Dennis, and Grandma G Force.
G Force
Oh, yeah.
Tommy
Bye. Bye. Hi, Bending eyebrows. My name is Nex. I'm from Kansas City. My wow is that there are rainbow busts. This rare thing happens when sunlight reflects off tiny ice crystals in a cloud. Bye. Hi, Indian Guy Rise. My name is Jordan. And my name is Elena. And we live from Malaga, Spain. Our wow in the world is that we have a little bit of gold in our bodies. It's mostly in our blood. Say hi to Grandma G Force. Booyah. Thomas Angerling, Reggie the Sleigh Cat and Dennis. We told everyone that you are static man. What?
Dennis
No, I'm not static man. We just look alike and sound alike.
Tommy
Bye. Bye. My name is Wyatt. I am from Davidson, North Carolina. Did you know that some fish cough? They do it to clear the particles and bacteria from their gills. Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name's Octavia and I live in Brooklyn, New York. My wow in the world is that slugs can have more teeth than sharks. Say hi to Thomas Sangola, Grandma G Force and Reggie for me.
G Force
Oh, snap.
Tommy
Oh, and don't forget the sleigh cat. Love your show. Hello, my name is Ziggy. I'm in Los Angeles, California, and my wow in the world is that lightning is five times hotter than the surface of the sun. Say hi to Dennis, Grandma Deforest Reggie and Thomas Fingerling Ahoy there.
Fingerling
Cool dude.
Tommy
Hi, I'm Emma from Missouri and I'm 11 years old. My wow in the world is that manatees control their buoyancy or how they balance by releasing and holding in farts. Tell Reggie hi for me and say hi for my brother to Grandma G. Ford.
G Force
Oh, isn't that nice.
Tommy
Bye.
Mindy
End of Messages thanks for listening to this episode of wow in the World. If you're a kid with a big wow to share with us, call our wow. Hotline at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW for a chance to be featured at the end of the show.
Guy Raz
And while you're at it, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Leave us five stars and tell us what wows you about our show by leaving a review. Or send us a comment on Spotify. You just might hear your reviewsy read by Dennis on WeWOW on the weekend.
Mindy
Visit us@tinkercast.com and become a member of the World Organization of Wowzers. With that you'll get year round mailings in your mailbox, weekly activities, birthday cards
Guy Raz
and more on Tinkercast.com, you can also shop our WOW. Shop, get tickets for upcoming live events, find our books, toys and science kits, and learn all about the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast.
Mindy
Once again, that's Tinkercast.com wow in the
Guy Raz
world is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalken with contributions from Me Guy Raz.
Mindy
Original sound design and music editing is done by Tyler Thole with help from our senior Production Director Jed Anderson and audio Producer Henry Moskal. You can also hear Jed Anderson in the voices of Dennis Thomas, Fingerling, Reggie, and many of the other silly characters you hear on our show.
Guy Raz
Jessica Boddy keeps our facts straight as our fact checker, Steph Sosa keeps our heads on straight as our Executive Producer and Meredith Halpern Ranzer powers the WOW at Tinkercast.
Mindy
Our theme song was composed and performed by three time Grammy nominee the Pop Ups. Find them at thepopups.com Special thanks to
Guy Raz
our team including Kristen Yang, Thuy Mac, Ali Paksima, Linda Rothenberg and Anna Zagorski and all of the other Tinkerers at Tinkercast hq Grown Ups.
Mindy
You can follow wow in the World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter owintheworld and our email address is helloinkercast.com thanks for listening.
Guy Raz
Find episodes of WOW. In the World every Monday to what's in a WOW? Every Friday right here and on YouTube.
Mindy
And don't forget we wow on the weekends with Dennis every Saturday and Sunday right here in the wow in the World podcast feed.
Guy Raz
Until then, keep on wowing.
Tommy
Wow in the World.
Mindy
Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast.
Podcast: Wow in the World by Tinkercast
Air Date: March 16, 2026
Hosts: Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz
Featured Characters: Dennis, Tommy, Fingerling, G Force
This episode uncovers a wow-worthy new scientific discovery: researchers have found that keratin—the protein found in hair and nails—could soon be used to repair and strengthen tooth enamel! In their signature playful, comedic tone, Mindy and Guy Raz explore how this breakthrough could change how we care for our teeth, bust some hairy myths, and answer lots of weird, "wow" questions from their colorful cast of friends.
Optimistic estimates: Keratin toothpaste might be available in 2–3 years, but most likely in 5–10 years after safety and taste tests.
Comic Interlude:
Kids call in with their own wow facts, including:
For more "wow," listeners are encouraged to share their own facts, visit tinkercast.com, or join the World Organization of Wowzers.