Mouth Myths
ANATOMY OF A TOOTH
A tooth is made up of two parts: the crown and the root. The crown sits above the gumline and is can be seen when someone smiles or opens their mouth. The root is below the gumline and makes up about two thirds of the tooth's total length.
Four different tissues make up each tooth. The enamel is the durable, white covering. It protects the tooth from the wear and tear of chewing. Dentin supports the tooth's enamel. It's a yellow bone-like material that's softer than enamel and carries some of the nerve fibres inside the tooth. The pulp is the centre of the tooth. It's a soft tissue that contains blood and lymph vessels and nerves. The pulp is how the tooth receives nourishment and transmits signals to the brain. Cementum covers most of the root of the tooth and helps attach the tooth to the jaw. A cushioning layer called the periodontal ligament sits between the cementum and the jawbone helping connect the two.
