My What Big Teeth You Have Trivia Quiz

The visible edge of our teeth is called enamel. This is an extremely strong material that serves as a protection to our teeth. Enamel cannot regenerate so dental hygiene is vital. The strength of enamel means the tooth cannot be easily broken and can act as a barrier to bacteria and acidic foods.

Located between a tooth's enamel and the pulp is a hard layer known as the dentin. It actually is a larger portion of the tooth than the enamel. It's made up of hard calcified tissue that is softer than enamel but harder than bone. The dentin layer gives support to the tooth and also transmits sensations like changes in temperature or pressure.

The American spelling is dentin while the British use dentine.

The outer edge of the tooth is hard enamel but the living part of the tooth is called the pulp. This is essentially the heart of the tooth. In the pulp, the blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue all combine to keep the tooth alive.

Gums make up the soft lining of our teeth and are called gingiva in Latin. The gums hold firmly to the bone and provide a barrier to the roots below. If you lose gum tissue, you could expose the roots and feel pain when chewing or drinking cold drinks. Changes in color of your gums could be a cause of concern for plaque.

Cementum covers the root of the tooth. Similar to enamel but softer, cementum is a hard, calcified tissue acting as a bone-like layer that anchors the periodontal ligament. Cementum contains no blood vessels.

When you hear the words "root canal" you may picture a painful dental procedure but it also refers to an area inside the dental pulp where the nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue combine. It runs from the pulp chamber down tiny channels to the root tips.

There is a small opening at the tip of a tooth's root that allows blood vessels and nerve endings to enter and exit the dental pulp. This small opening at the root apex is called the apical foramen and connects the pulp to periodontal tissue.

Our teeth are attached to the jawbone - the upper part is the maxilla and the lower part is the mandible. The bones provide structure for the teeth to stay in place. The roots of our teeth sit in bony sockets in the upper and lower jaws

There are normally 206 bones in a human body.

The crown is covered in enamel and is the visible portion of a tooth. Its role is not only cosmetic but is also used for cutting and grinding our food, depending on the type of tooth. Being the outer layer, the crown can also affect our speech patterns.

The roots of our teeth contain nerves, pulp and dentin, and are at risk if our gums recede. The roots also anchor our teeth to the bone, provide stability and deliver nutrients. Their health is vital for our overall dental health.