Teeth are the part of the human body that do not burn completely, even during cremation. This is due to their composition, primarily calcium phosphate, which is highly resistant to the intense heat of cremation. While other parts of the body are consumed by fire, the teeth often remain, albeit sometimes altered in appearance.
Understanding the Resistance of Teeth to Fire
Several sources confirm that teeth, due to their mineral composition, resist complete incineration. The high calcium phosphate content makes them significantly more resistant to heat than other bodily tissues, such as skin, muscle, and even bone. While the intense heat of cremation may alter their appearance (e.g., discoloration, cracking), they do not completely burn away.
- Cremation: During cremation, the high temperatures incinerate organic materials, leaving behind bone fragments and, significantly, the teeth.
- Calcium Phosphate: The primary component of teeth is calcium phosphate, a very heat-resistant material. This property explains their resistance to complete combustion.
- Bone Fragments: While bone fragments also remain after cremation, they are not as resistant to heat as teeth and may be significantly altered or reduced.
Some references even suggest that although teeth are resistant, they do burn partially during cremation. The degree of burning depends on the duration and intensity of the heat.
Therefore, while complete incineration is not the case, the remarkable resistance to burning exhibited by teeth makes them unique in this regard amongst other human body parts.
