Tooth enamel is widely talked about when discussing oral health, but how much do you know about this hard tissue? When it comes to your health, the more you know, the better equipped you will be to make the right choices. Our quiz tests your knowledge of the tooth’s most important protector. Impress Dr. Locke with your knowledge during your next visit!
1. What part of the tooth does the enamel cover?
a. The crown.
b. The root.
c. The crown and the root
2. Tooth enamel is the strongest tissue in the entire human body.
a. True
b. False
3. ________ in food erode tooth enamel, making it soft and unable to protect the tooth.
a. Water molecules
b. Hormones
c. Acids
4. What gives your tooth its white color?
a. Dentin
b. Enamel
c. Milk
5. If cracked or damaged, enamel will repair itself like other bones and tissues in the body.
a. True
b. False
ANSWERS:
1. A—Your tooth enamel only covers the crown, the top part of the tooth that has erupted above the gum line. When gums recede and a tooth’s root is exposed, since there’s no protective enamel on the root, patients experience sensitivity.
2. A—Although enamel only consists of a thin layer over the teeth, it is the strongest substance that your body produces; even stronger than bone. Enamel is the second hardest naturally occurring substance on earth; diamonds is the first.
3. C—Acids in food can erode the tooth enamel and sap important minerals, leaving the tooth vulnerable to erosion and infection from bacteria and bacterial plaque.
4. A—The enamel is the outermost layer of teeth, but it is translucent (see-through). The secondary layer, dentin, is what gives teeth a white hue.
5. B—Enamel is unique in that it does not contain living cells, so when cracked or damaged, the body cannot repair it as it does other tissues, like that of skin and bones. If your enamel cracks, you will need professional restorative and/or endodontic treatment to protect your teeth from further damage.
To learn more about the parts of your teeth and their functions, subscribe to this blog and follow us on Facebook. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Locke, call our Waco dentist’s office at (254) 776-4888. We welcome patients from Waco, Woodway, McGregor, Hewitt, and surrounding communities.