HAVE you ever accidentally bitten down on a little piece of aluminum foil? Have you experienced that quick zap of pain? Perhaps a little piece of foil was clinging to the tortilla when you unwrapped your taco during lunch. When that foil came in contact with metal in your mouth (such as an amalgam filling, a metal crown, or braces) it created a little electrical shock! That jolt is called galvanic shock.
Here’s how it works.
The discomfort comes from two different types of metal interacting with each other. These dissimilar metals—with help from our saliva—create something akin to a very low powered battery. When we bite down the stored electric charge flows through the teeth to our nerves, and our brain interprets the nerve’s signal as pain.
You can watch this video clip, Why Is It Painful To Bite Aluminum Foil? at www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MqAV04WK_aE.
4 Aluminum foil uses that are better than biting it
• Sharpen dull scissors. Just fold up a few strips and start cutting!
• Soften brown sugar by wrapping it in foil and baking it for 5 minutes at 300° F.
• Moving a couch? Put foil (dull side down) under the legs to glide across the floor.
• Clean your iron by ironing over a piece of foil to get rid of build-up.
Steer clear of sneaky foil pieces in food. Thanks for being a part of our practice family!
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If you have questions, pls call Dr. Valerie de Leon at (650) 697–9000 or visit our website at www.millbraesmiles.com. She is with Millbrae Smile Center located at 15 El Camino Real, Millbrae 94030. She is a member of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Academy of Laser Dentistry, ADA, CDA and SMCDS. Please call for a free consultation.
