Anyone who has ever squirmed through a dental cleaning can tell you how sensitive teeth can be. This sensitivity gives important feedback about temperature, pressure—and yes, pain—as we bite and chew our food. However, the sensitive parts inside the hard enamel first evolved for something quite different.
Fair enough. We have pain receptors all over our internal organs, and I can’t figure out what they are good for. Maybe teach us to avoid blunt force trauma?
I think our ancestors cracked nuts with their teeth. I think those nerves might help to get that right.