“The tooth, the hair is the human angle” – from ancient times until now, the beauty of teeth and hair has always been highly appreciated. Therefore, protecting and maintaining oral health is something we cannot neglect. To have the right methods to take care of your oral health, you need to have an overview of your teeth. In this article, let’s learn about the basic structure of teeth with goodheathplan and how to properly clean your teeth!
What is the basic structure of teeth?
Teeth are made up of 3 different parts.
Enamel
Enamel is the hard outer layer of the tooth. This is also the shape of the teeth we can see. Enamel has the function of protecting teeth from harmful agents such as: temperature, chemicals, erosion … on the outside that you can see. Mainly made up of minerals including calcium and fluorine. Tooth enamel is made of calcium phosphate in the form of long thin crystals. These crystals are arranged close together in a sequence that helps protect the dentin layer and pulp.
Enamel is the hard outer layer of the tooth.
Enamel has uneven thickness across regions. The crown of the crown is the thickest part with a thickness of about 1.5 mm. Then comes the chewing surface and enamel is thinnest at the neck of the tooth. Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body with a hardness of 260-360 Knoop. However, unlike bone, enamel and teeth cannot regenerate themselves when broken. Without careful oral hygiene, the bacteria will break down leftovers and produce acids that erode tooth enamel. Damaged enamel layer will create conditions for bacteria to penetrate and destroy dentin and pulp.
Dentine
Underneath the enamel is the dentin. Dentin is the main mass and volume of the teeth. At the same time, dentin is also a component that determines the basic shape of teeth. The dentin covers the entire canal and pulp except for the root canal. Although dentin is not as hard as enamel, dentin has better elasticity, is less brittle and easily broken like enamel. Natural dentin will be light yellow, porous and permeable. The hardness of the dentin in the cervical, crown and root positions is the same. However, depending on the dentin area, there will be a slight difference in hardness. The hardest part of the dentin is located 0.4mm to 0.6mm from the pulp. The closer to the pulp, the softer the dentin.
Function of dentin
Dentin has 3 main functions as follows:
- It is the building block of teeth.
- The dentin covers and protects the pulp of the tooth.
- The dentin is the part that helps transmit nerve impulses and send signals to the tooth pulp. Thanks to that, we feel hot, cold, sour, sensitive…
Pulp
The pulp is the “heart” of the tooth. The pulp is located below the dentin. This is where the blood vessels and nerves of the teeth are located. Therefore, the pulp will have the function of maintaining the life of the tooth. The pulp of the tooth is where the nerves and blood vessels are located. They are distributed in both the crown, the root of the tooth called the pulp chamber and the canal. The pulp is located in the cavity between the dentin. Depending on the type of tooth, the tooth can have from 1 to 4 canals. Incisors usually have 1 canal, small molars have 2 canals and large molars have 3-4 canals.
Function of tooth pulp
The main functions of the tooth pulp include 3 functions as follows:
- The function of dentin regeneration: The pulp will have the function of nourishing, repairing and regenerating new dentin.
- Nourishing function: The pulp includes a vascular system, which has the function of providing nutrients to nourish the pulp and dentin.
- Transmission function. The canals will have the function of sensing and transmitting sensation when the tooth is impacted. Sensations such as: heat, cold, pain and tenderness.
Because it is likened to the “heart” of the tooth, if the tooth is dead, the pulp is considered as a dead tooth. At that time, the tooth will no longer have pulp to nourish. At the same time, the teeth will not be able to receive and respond to external stimuli.
5 tips for proper oral hygiene
Choose the right toothbrush
How should we choose a brush? (Photo: Internet)
You should choose a brush with thin and soft bristles. The pointed brush head will make it easy for you to brush deep into the inner molars. This is especially important for people with these teeth. You should change your toothbrush every 3 months to ensure oral health. Or whenever the brush head shows signs of wear, it should be replaced. Long-term use makes the bristles harden which is not good for teeth. Easy to cause pain and bleeding gums for sensitive gums. Especially do not share the brush with other people.
Keep the brush clean and dry
Why is it important to keep the brush clean and dry? (Photo: Internet)
After use, the brush gets wet and this is an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. Not to mention there are remaining plaques on the bristles that have not been cleaned thoroughly. Therefore, you should try to rinse your toothbrush properly after use. Place perpendicular to the ground in a dry place to avoid mold or bacteria.
Don’t brush your teeth too hard
In fact, brushing too hard is not a good habit. Excessive force can cause bleeding gums. Or cause pain and weaken the teeth over time. Causes teeth to loosen or become sensitive. So if you have this habit, you should practice brushing your teeth gently in a circular motion to not hurt your teeth and still achieve optimal cleaning effect.
Should I brush my teeth with force? (Photo: Internet)
Many people have a habit of using strong force when brushing because it feels cleaner. In fact, brushing too hard is not a good habit. Excessive force can cause bleeding gums. Or cause pain and weaken the teeth over time. Causes teeth to loosen or become sensitive. So if you have this habit, you should practice brushing your teeth gently in a circular motion to not hurt your teeth and still achieve optimal cleaning effect.
Brushing alone is not enough to remove food particles between the teeth. Therefore, to ensure the most effective teeth cleaning, you need to use more floss. What is the right way to use dental floss? Read the article: “What is flossing? What’s the use of dental floss?”
Brush your teeth properly for at least 2 minutes each time
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing twice daily for 2 minutes each day. If you spend less than two minutes brushing your teeth, you won’t remove much plaque from your teeth.
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Johnny Jacks was born in 1985 in Texas, USA. He is the founder of Good Health Plan and is passionate about helping people improve their health and physical well-being. With over a decade of experience working in the healthcare industry, he currently works at Goodheathplan.com – a blog that shares knowledge on beauty and health.