Oral Bacteria as Bunker Busters

Between the pulp and the outside world, two layers stand in the way: the enamel and dentin. Think of the tooth as the strongest bunker in the human body.

The pulp is wired into the body by a series of blood vessels and nerves inside, which helps you taste hot and cold food and beverage. The only way inside the pulp or chamber is from the root of the tooth where a pair of small corridors run along it. This explains the usual pain and bleeding that often comes with tooth extraction, or when teeth is knocked off by accident.

Tooth decay-causing bacteria, however, like to force their way inside the pulp from the mouth. For this matter, they have to punch through the tough enamel, which turns out to be the toughest bone in the human body. So when something eats through the enamel, you know your other bones won't stand a chance. If ignored, the decay will continue to dig through the tooth and eventually reach the root.

This is a typical scenario for a decay that has gone on far too long. At its peak, much of the affected tooth has been overrun by an abscess, especially the pulp that houses the blood vessels and nerves. Protecting the inside of teeth, in this case, also means protecting the outside. Regular cleaning by a dentist, aside from daily oral hygiene, can do just that.