Aluminum foil and fillings?

My girlfriend doesn't believe me when I say that putting aluminum foil in your mouth causes extreme pain if you have fillings. This is true, right? And how extreme is the pain?

Aluminum foil and fillings?
Good question!





When you have amalgam (metal) fillings , and you bite on aluminum foil, it creates direct-current electricity called "galvanism". Galvanism in this case is cause by two dislike metals coming into direct contact with one another. The metal itself is an excellent conductor of electricity, sending the electrical shock to the nerve of the tooth (teeth). OUCH! I have done this by accident, it is such a jarring pain that I wouldn't do it on purpose if you paid me to! ;) If she has metal fillings and refuses to believe you about the pain it causes to bite on foil, offer her a piece to chew. She will soon be a believer! (It won't work unless she has metal fillings)It's kinda mean, but it won't cause damage to her. Just shock her a good one!
Reply:Thanx for the laugh--my kids are now trying to see if this really hurts! Personally, I wouldn't be putting aluminum foil in my mouth! I'd say that it depends on the person and how sensitive their teeth are. Kids are saying that it doesn't hurt their fillings at all. LMAO at the looks on their faces though!
Reply:That is soooo true! The pain is unbelievable-its this instant sharp pain like brainfreeze but in your mouth!Even thinking about it makes my teeth hurt..
Reply:It depends on how close the filling is to your pulp chamber, where your nerves are. Amalgam fillings are good conductors of electricity, so if the filling is close to your nerves, it could be painful.
Reply:good answers so far... the physiology involves dissimilar metals in a solution. the metals can be amalgam or gold or base metal, etc. when metal such as foil is placed accidentally or on purpose between two metal fillings, "galvanic shock" occurs. this sharp stinging pain is really a jolt of electrical current. it is a real phenomenon taught in dental schools...