# Why does it hurt...

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-hurt/103826
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 15, 2002, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-hurt/103826 "2002-04-15T21:46:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Cleric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@Cleric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleric)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2002, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-hurt/103826/1 "2002-04-15T21:46:54Z")

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I always wondered why it hurts when you eat foil. Actually, it hurts just thinking about it. Does it have something to do with fillings or cavities?

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### Author: ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2002, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-hurt/103826/2 "2002-04-15T21:59:36Z")

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Sure does. You are making an Al/Ag or Al/Hg battery and the result, even though it is probably only about a volt, is enough to send a jolt through your dental nerves. Ouch!

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### Author: ![NevarMore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7feea3/32.png) [@NevarMore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NevarMore)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2002, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-hurt/103826/3 "2002-04-15T22:04:29Z")

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more importantly, why were you eating foil?

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### Author: ![Cleric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@Cleric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleric)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2002, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-hurt/103826/4 "2002-04-15T22:34:33Z")

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\>more importantly, why were you eating foil?

I had to cut back on the paint chips…

Seriously, sometimes foil gets into your food.

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### Author: ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2002, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-hurt/103826/5 "2002-04-15T23:28:58Z")

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**Cecil Adams** on [chewing aluminum foil](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_121a.html) .