Mysterious but true!
Your teeth have tiny tubules, a unique immune system & yet most of each tooth is not alive!

We usually talk about teeth in terms of enamel and dentin—those hard, familiar structures we try to keep shiny and cavity-free. But there’s more to your teeth than their surface strength. Hidden beneath the enamel is an entire defence system uniquely designed to keep your teeth safe from bacteria, decay, and damage.

Your teeth have their own immune system!

Unlike the rest of your body, which relies on blood vessels and lymphatics for immune responses, your teeth have their own specialised protective mechanisms. It’s fascinating —and understanding it might give you a new appreciation for the quiet, constant work happening inside your mouth, and ways to support the healing work your teeth are perpetually undertaking. Here comes the medical bit ...

Photo by Ozkan Guner on Unsplash

1. Enamel: The Bodyguard at the Gates

Enamel is your tooth’s first line of defence—a physical shield that’s as tough as it is unforgiving. You know a fair bit about this visible part of your tooth.

• Why It Works: Enamel is the hardest substance in your body. It’s highly mineralised and nearly impenetrable to bacteria.

• The Trade-Off: It’s not alive. That means no blood supply, no regeneration, and no immune response. If bacteria get through enamel, it's hard to fix the damage— mostly, it’s up to the layers underneath to step in. Homeopathy and remineralising toothpastes plus diet can restore enamel, but not when it is being eroded faster than it is remineralised.

2. Dentin & the Dentinal Tubules: The Tooth’s Early Warning System

Once past the enamel, bacteria encounter dentin—a layer full of tiny pathways called dentinal tubules.

• What’s Happening Here:

  • Fluid moves through the tubules, helping to flush out bacteria and slow their progress.

  • If bacteria manage to invade, your tooth’s defence mechanisms begin to activate.

• Meet the Odontoblasts: These cells line the pulp and help form dentin. When they sense a threat, they release antimicrobial peptides and may lay down reparative dentin to block off the tubules.

It’s not a perfect system, but it’s an impressive attempt at containment.

3. Dental Pulp: The Immune Headquarters Inside Your Tooth

The pulp is where things get serious. It’s the living core of your tooth, packed with nerves, blood vessels, and immune cells.

• Who’s on Defence?

  • Dendritic Cells act as scouts, identifying threats and calling for reinforcements.

  • Macrophages clean up bacteria and damaged tissue.

  • T-Cells and B-Cells activate deeper, adaptive immune responses when bacteria dig in.

• The Inflammation Catch-22: When bacteria invade the pulp, inflammation kicks in to fight off infection. This is what causes the pain of pulpitis. But inflammation inside a tooth is tricky—there’s limited space, and too much swelling can damage the very tissue it’s trying to protect ... leading to abscessing.

4. Saliva: Your Silent Ally

Saliva doesn’t get nearly enough credit for the work it does. It’s packed with immune-supportive compounds that help keep your teeth healthy. All its functions depend on a healthy microbiome, immune system and functional processes within your body.

• Key Players in Saliva:

  • Lysozyme breaks down bacterial cell walls.

  • Lactoferrin starves bacteria by stealing iron.

  • Immunoglobulin A (IgA) neutralises bacteria and their toxins.

  • Histatins—small peptides—fight bacteria and fungi.

• The Acid Neutraliser: Saliva also buffers acids produced by bacteria, preventing enamel erosion and keeping your teeth out of harm’s way.

5. Gums & Surrounding Tissues: More Than Just Support

Healthy gums don’t just hold your teeth in place—they actively protect them.

• What’s Happening Here:

  • Gums form a tight seal around the tooth, blocking bacteria from deeper structures.

  • Immune cells like neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes live here, ready to fight off bacterial invaders.

• The Warning Sign: If plaque forms, inflammation (gingivitis) sets in. Left unchecked, chronic inflammation can damage the gums, ligaments, and even the bone supporting your teeth.

There are some amazing homeopathic remedies for gingivitis. One of them is homeopathic form of mercury. Mercury toxicity symptoms often include such disease, so homeopathic mercury can be a good treatment.
There are plenty more too. Check out my course.

6. Biofilm and Plaque: The Bacterial Back Door

Dental plaque is a biofilm—a bacterial community that works to evade your immune system.

• The Immune Response: Your body fights plaque with inflammation, but there’s a limit. Chronic inflammation, like in gingivitis or periodontitis, can end up harming the very tissues the immune system is trying to protect.

This is why oral hygiene matters so much: brushing and flossing prevent plaque from overstaying its welcome, and eating a diet that supports your mouth and gut microbiome is essential to prevent the build-up of invasive biofilms.

A wonderful homeopathic remedy to use if you are very prone to plaque build-up despite a good diet: fragaria.

The Big Picture: A Balancing Act

Your teeth are protected by an incredible mix of physical barriers, immune defences, and the supportive role of saliva and gums. But it’s not foolproof. Once bacteria breach the enamel and reach the pulp, your immune response is both the hero and the problem—necessary to fight infection, but sometimes destructive if it becomes excessive.

This delicate balance highlights why prevention is everything. By keeping plaque in check and supporting your teeth’s natural defences, you help this remarkable immune system work the way it’s designed to—quietly, effectively, and without pain.

So, next time you brush your teeth, consider this: you’re not just cleaning enamel. You’re teaming up with an intricate defence system that’s been working for you all along. That’s a partnership worth maintaining.

You Can Heal Your Teeth with homeopathy ~ My Course

This course teaches you homeopathy for maintaining your teeth, healing decay and infections, and dealing with side-effects after dentistry. It also has a full section on nutrition for teeth and remineralising enamel.

Check it out here: You Can Heal Your Teeth.

Join my membership where you can get support with teeth questions too.

Join my facebook group Homeopathy YOU Can Heal Your Teeth Course

Photo by Callum Hill on Unsplash

Coming Next In Teeth:
You can also learn how to grow your kids so their teeth fit in their mouths and their eyes fit in their eye sockets! [&The whole process is in my course].

Best wishes

Wren
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