What makes up a tooth?
You wake up in the morning and after a certain amount of coffee you are ready to show the world the bright white smile that you are so proud of. Have you ever wondered what that bright smile is made of? Most likely not. Some may even think the tooth is just the same white material inside and out. A tooth is actually made up for various different parts beneath the enamel, or the white layer that we can visibly see. Our teeth have two parts, and are made up of four main tissues.
The Parts of the Tooth
The Crown: The crown of the tooth is the visible area of the tooth that can be seen above our gums.
The Root: The root is just the opposite. The root of the tooth is the parts of the tooth below the gums that anchor the tooth down.
What Makes Up A Tooth
Enamel: As stated above, the enamel is the white outer layer of the tooth that we see when we open our mouth. Did you know the enamel is the hardest substance in your body?
Dentin: Beneath the enamel is dentin. Dentin is a yellow bone-like material that is slightly softer than enamel and contains some nerve fibers. These nerve fibers help tell our mind when something is wrong with the tooth.
Pulp: The centre of the tooth is the pulp. The pulp contains blood, lymph vessels ,and nerves within it. The tooth receives nourishment and sends signals to the brain from the pulp.
Cementum: This is what helps attach the tooth to the bones in your jaw. It covers most of the root of a tooth.
A tooth may seem like a simple thing when you smile or put one under your pillow for the tooth fairy. Like everything else in our body though, there is always more than meets the eye.