What You Need to Know About the Anatomy and Decaying of Your Teeth

What do you know about your teeth? That they are white? That you use them to eat? That you have to brush them twice a day? Is that about it? For most people, the answer is a very quick and simple, yes, and that is ok. However, knowing a little about your teeth will help you take better care of them and will help you to identify possible problems before they become serious.

You may not know that the center of the tooth contains living cells, that is why your tooth grows and feels pain. It is protected by a calcified outer shell, so that when you eat, chew gum or brush your teeth, you will not feel pain unless the outer shell has been damaged by decay.

Let’s breakdown the structure of the tooth:

Crown— The crown is the only part of the tooth that is visible above the gum line. It has three layers: the enamel, the dentin and the pulp.

Enamel – Enamel covers the crown and is the outermost layer of the tooth. Enamel is the hardest and most mineralized tissue in the body. The enamel does not contain living cells, therefore when exposed to bacteria that causes decay, it cannot combat the damage or repair the tooth.

Dentin – Dentin is the layer beneath the enamel. The dentin contains millions of tiny tubes that lead to the center of the tooth. When the enamel is damaged, these tubes allow hot and cold sensation to reach the nerves of the tooth which leads to sensitivity and pain.

Pulp – Pulp is the soft tissue in the center of the tooth. This is where the nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue of the teeth reside. The area of the tooth where the pulp is located is called the pulp chamber. At the bottom of the pulp chamber is the root canal, the chamber where the crown and the root meet and is the part that contains the pulp of the root.

Root— The root is the part of the tooth that is embedded in bone. The root makes up about two-thirds of the tooth and holds the tooth in place. Upper front teeth typically have just one root and one root canal. Lower molars usually have two roots and three root canals. Most upper molars have three roots and at least three, if not four, root canals.

Cementum – Hard connective tissue that covers the root that helps the connective tissue in the periodontal ligament connect the root to the tooth’s socket.

Gum line— The gum line is where the tooth and the gums meet. The gums are soft tissue that cover and protect the roots. The gums also house baby teeth and permanent teeth until it is time for them to erupt through the gum line.

Now that we have discussed the anatomy of the tooth, let’s take a look at what happens to the tooth during the decaying process:

Plaque – Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on your teeth. It feeds off of sugar that is found in food and drinks. This causes the plaque to produce acid that eats away at the enamel of a tooth.

Cavities – Cavities form when the plaque is not adequately removed from your teeth. The acid from the plaque continuously attacks the enamel, causing it to weaken and break down, exposing the underlying layer of dentin to the bacteria.

Tooth Decay – Tooth decay happens when the enamel is destroyed, causing the gums to recede and exposing the cementum to plaque. Cementum is softer than enamel and is more susceptible to the bacteria in the plaque which causes infection in the gums and roots.

Gum Disease – Once the bacteria reach the roots, the gums can become infected and inflamed. Minor gum disease, called gingivitis, can lead to a more serious form of infection called periodontitis. Both of these conditions can cause bleeding of the gums, bad breath and loosening of the teeth.

When the teeth begin to break down due to decay, it is important to get a handle on things quickly before the root and pulp are damaged. Cavities should be filled and damaged teeth covered by a crown as soon as possible. Once the damage reaches the root, a root canal will have to be performed. Practicing a good oral health care routine is the first step in keep plaque from damaging the enamel, which stops the chain reaction of the decaying process.