With so many amazing facts about the human body, it's easy to take our incredible anatomy for granted. For example, have you ever wondered what the hardest substance in the human body is?
Remarkably, out of everything that makes up the human body, tooth enamel is the hardest material, though not the toughest. Hydroxyapatite, enamel's primary component, earns it a 5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale – slightly harder than steel. However, it is significantly more brittle.
Tooth enamel is the outermost layer of your tooth's crown. Composed of approximately 96% densely packed mineral crystals, it helps prevent plaque, decay, and cavities. Damage to tooth enamel can lead to serious dental problems, including tooth cracking, chipping, and breaking. Symptoms of enamel damage can include tooth sensitivity, yellowing of the teeth, and indentations on the surface of the teeth. Side effects from medications and chronic dry mouth can also lead to problems with eroded tooth enamel.
You may have previously assumed that bones are the hardest substance in the human body. They aren’t quite as hard as enamel, though they rank closely on the Mohns Hardness Scale. Unlike the bones in your body, however, tooth enamel is made almost entirely of minerals, with no living cells. Thus, it can't regenerate if destroyed, so it is vital to protect it!
Dig your teeth into this:
- Tooth enamel consists of densely packed mineral crystals that are a thousand times smaller than a strand of hair. The amount or thickness of tooth enamel can vary among individuals, although it is typically 2.5 mm thick on average.
- Acidic foods, such as citrus and tomatoes, can cause enamel erosion over time. Sodas and sports drinks can also play a factor, as they contain damaging acids and a lot of sugar.
- Your teeth consist of four main types of tissues, three of which are hard and highly mineralized. A bone-like tissue known as dentin is located just beneath the enamel, giving the tooth much of its structure. There is also cementum, which is the hard tissue covering the outside of the tooth's root. The other material, dental pulp, is a soft tissue located at the tooth's core, connecting it to blood vessels and nerve endings.
