Your teeth are hard, mineral-rich formations in your mouth that enable you to grind and tear into food, aiding the digestion process. But these fixtures in your smile are not solid and bone-like all the way through. They feature layers that allow the tooth to function without issue while remaining connected to the rest of your body.
When you understand the composition of your teeth, you can better take care of them and keep your smile looking and feeling its best. Discover the three layers of your teeth and how they contribute to your dental health when you read on.
Enamel
The enamel is the outermost layer of the teeth. It serves as a hard shell that covers the entire surface of each tooth. It is made of minerals like calcium that can withstand wear and tear as you bite and chew food items.
This shield over your teeth keeps them protected from the bacteria that also live in the mouth. However, over time, enamel can wear down, exposing the inner layers of the tooth. Then you might develop cavities and other dental issues.
Once gone, enamel cannot regenerate. But a dentist can replace weakened tooth enamel with a dental crown or another restorative treatment to keep your smile protected.
Enamel also gives your teeth their pearly white appearance. If you form dark stains, it is likely due to staining agents absorbed into the enamel. Your dentist can lift and dissolve stubborn dental discoloration with teeth whitening treatment in many cases.
Dentin
Below the enamel is a middle layer of your tooth called dentin. This layer is slightly softer than enamel because it contains organic material as well as minerals. It provides support to the enamel, keeping it securely in place atop the tooth, and it also contains the tooth’s nerves.
A healthy tooth will not hurt, but if you experience a sharp pain in your tooth when you bite or chew, then nerves in the dentin might be exposed. If enamel erodes, external stimuli can touch the dentin and cause tooth sensitivity pain. Your dentist can treat damaged enamel to bring relief to sensitive teeth.
Dentin is yellow in color, so if your teeth appear yellow, then you might be seeing exposed dentin due to weakened enamel. Find cosmetic dental treatments that can address this concern when you call your dentist.
Pulp
The pulp refers to the innermost layer at the center of your tooth. The tooth’s pulp contains blood vessels that lead out of the tooth’s root to reach the gums and link with the rest of the body. This blood flow allows the tooth to stay healthy and vital.
If you suffer damage to the pulp that blocks blood flow, then the tooth can become non-vital. As a result, the tooth can become numb or grey in color. It may face a greater risk of infection in this state.
Make sure you visit your dentist to monitor the health of your tooth pulp and prevent serious oral health complications. Preserve the wellness of each layer of your tooth with routine dental care.