Ever wondered what teeth are? Well, that is a thought that often arises when there is pain. Fortunately, it doesn't have to be that way.
Teeth are a combination of living and non living structures. The outer layer is called the Enamel. Did you know Enamel is tougher than bone? Since it is devoid of nerve innervation, we can bite into the hardest nuts, enjoy our ice cream, and of course our morning coffee, without ever feeling any of the sensations.
Next come the sensitive tissues, Dentin, Cementum, and Pulp. Pulp, which is the core Part, encases the nerve tissue. Did you notice how the tooth is so intelligently structured? Had the pulp been on the top, ouch, we can't use our teeth at all. Luckily, that's not the case.
Coming to pain. As you would have noticed, tooth pain cannot occur until the nerve is affected. There are several layers protecting the nerve. When a cavity starts, its beginning is in the Enamel. Obviously, since Enamel has no nerve innervation, the decay will not cause pain. It is a tough fight for the bacteria that cause cavities to reach all the way past the enamel and reach the pulp.
The oral cavity is an environment that is always moist, subjected to myriad varieties of foods, niche for thousands of bacteria. In Spite of a tough environment, teeth are very forgiving and withstanding. They stand tall to give us the health we need, the smile we desire. Take care of them!
