You might think they’re just your chompers, but your teeth are some of the most fascinating parts of the human body. We’re not saying that just because we’re dentists, either. If you don’t believe us, just take a look at these amazing facts:
- The plague our dental hygienists near Forked River remove from your teeth can be home to up to 300 different types of bacteria!
- Gold crowns on teeth are nothing new. The ancient Romans used them to restore teeth decayed by cavities, too.
- Women smile on average 62 times each day. By contrast, men smile only 8 times a day.
- The most common disease in the United States is the common cold. Tooth decay is a close number 2, so be sure to visit your dentist near Lacey so you don’t end up on the list!
- Your dentist recommends brushing your teeth for two minutes to get the best results. Most people don’t follow that advice. The average person does it for just 48 seconds.
- The ancient Romans used toothpaste just like we do, but it was a little different. It was made from honey and crushed eggshells.
- It’s best not to put a cap on your toothbrush. Why is that? It’s because that can help promote even more bacterial growth on the brush than usual. Keep it in the open air!
- When you eat is just as important as what you eat. Eating sugary foods after a meal, for example, actually reduces the risk of cavities!
- A prison inmate in West Virginia once used dental floss to scale a wall and escape from jail.
- Elephant teeth are HUGE. They can measure nearly a foot across and weight up to six pounds.
- The hardest substance in your body is not your skull, it’s your tooth enamel!
- A knocked out tooth will start to die in just 15 minutes. The best way to help it last a little longer is to put it in milk or hold it in your mouth.
- A single can of soda can contain a whopping 12 teaspoons of sugar. That’s as much sugar as six to twelve cups of coffee!
- The first bristled toothbrush was made in China all the way back in the late 1400s. The brush was made of hog, horse and badger hair, which sounds gross but was probably very effective.
- Crocodiles have it easy when it comes to taking care of their teeth. A species of bird called the crocodile bird acts as their personal dentist. This bird flies into the open mouths of crocs and cleans their teeth for them!
- Roughly 3 out of 4 Americans have Periodontal gum disease, sometimes minor, sometimes more severe.
- Dentists in Manahawkin want you to floss because if you skip flossing, you miss cleaning about 40% of your teeth surface!
- You’ll spend just over 38 days brushing your teeth over the course of your lifespan.
- The lowly toothpick is the biggest choking hazard in the U.S. More people choke on toothpicks every year than they do food.
- Your dental records are important. Much like your fingerprints, your teeth totally unique to you and can help identify you (as you probably know if you watch police shows and murder movies).
- Egyptian mummies have been found that had dental fillings!
- George Washington did NOT have wooden dentures. That is a myth. His dentures were actually made from ivory, metals, and animal teeth.
- A snail’s mouth contains over 25,000 teeth!
- Giraffes do not have upper teeth, they only have bottom teeth!
- Sports injuries account for upwards of 5 million teeth getting knocked out each year!
Pretty fun stuff, right? We’ll be sure to share more with you in future blog posts, so check back and enjoy! In the meantime, follow us on Facebook!