A team of scientists in China have grown teeth using stem cells from human urine.

The study showed that urine could be used as a source of stem cells that in turn could be grown into tiny tooth-like structures.

Researchers are looking for ways of growing new teeth to replace those lost with age and poor dental hygiene.

Stem cells are a popular area of research and the team at the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health used urine as the starting point.

The cells from the urine were collected,   coaxed into becoming stem cells and used to implant in mice.

After three weeks, the bundle of cells “contained dental pulp, dentin, enamel space and enamel organ,” researchers said.

They added it could lead to further studies towards “the final dream of total regeneration of human teeth for clinical therapy” but the project has attracted criticism.

Prof Chris Mason, a stem cell scientist at University College London, told the news: “It is probably one of the worst sources, there are very few cells in the first place and the efficiency of turning them into stem cells is very low.”