Dentin

Looks like

Yellowish, porous hard tissue forming most of each tooth under the enamel and root surface.

What it does

Supports the enamel and carries sensations to the pulp through tiny tubes.

Keeping it well

Exposed by gum recession or erosion, making teeth sensitive; desensitising toothpaste helps. Decay spreads faster here than in enamel.

Related conditions

• Acromegaly
• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Burning mouth syndrome
• Dental abscess
• Fractures
• Fragility fracture
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Hand, foot and mouth disease
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Impacted wisdom teeth
• Lichen planus
• Mouth ulcers (aphthous stomatitis)
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
• Osteomalacia & rickets
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Osteoporosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Pemphigus vulgaris
• Sarcoma
• Stevens–Johnson syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis
• Teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Tooth decay & gum disease
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency