Weird But True Things About the Mouth
We see them every day. We use them every day. Even so, they never cease to amaze us. We bet you’ll be amazed, too, when you read some of these incredible facts about your pearly whites. Grab the brush (and the floss too) and join us as we explore the fascinating world of teeth. Below are fun facts about your mouth we thought you’d enjoy learning about.
- If you’re someone who puts a cap on their toothbrush each time after you use it, then consider tossing that cap and letting your toothbrush air out. The commonly used practice of putting a cap on a toothbrush is actually more detrimental. The moisture entrapped in the cap favors bacterial growth.
- Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body; however, we do NOT recommend that you use your pearly whites to open bottles!
- The plaque found on your teeth is home to more than 300 different species of bacteria. Listerine, anyone?
- The average person spends about 48 seconds per day brushing their teeth, but dentists recommend at least 2 or 3 minutes.
- 6 is the magic number–magic number of feet away from your toilet you should store your toothbrush in order to avoid airborne particles from toilet flushing making their way to your bristles. Yuck!
- In 1994, a West Virginia prison inmate braided dental floss into a rope, scaled the wall, and escaped! We suggest that you use it to clean the 35% of your teeth’s surfaces that you are missing when only brushing, rather than to escape from any prisons (better yet, just don’t go to prison, ok?)
- According to a recent survey by Time magazine, 59% of people would rather have a dental appointment than sit next to someone who is talking on a cell phone (and we don’t blame ‘em!)
- At least 3 out of 4 Americans suffer from some form of periodontal gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss for people over the age of 35. The good news: Gum disease can be prevented and controlled!
- In China, in 1498, the first toothbrush with bristles was made, using hair from hogs, horses, and badgers. The first official commercial toothbrush was manufactured in 1938.
- A snail’s mouth is no larger than the head of a pin, but can contain over 25,000 teeth!
- In early America, blacksmiths often also served as dentists. How about a tooth filling to go with your new horse shoes?
- In Egypt, mummies have been found with fillings comprised of resin and malachite, and gold wire was used to bind together loose teeth.
- The Romans, in 200 AD, used pretty impressive dental technology! They restored cavity-ridden teeth with gold crowns, and utilized fixed bridgework to fix gaps from missing teeth. They also used a form of toothpaste concocted from honey and crushed eggshells.
- In Medieval Germany, the only cure for a toothache was to kiss a donkey.
- 73% of Americans would rather go grocery shopping than floss.
- What’s the object most often choked on by Americans? A toothpick! Wouldn’t it just be easier to floss?
- The average woman smiles about 62 times per day! A man? Only 8.
- 50% of people surveyed say that a person’s smile is the first physical trait they notice.
- Like your fingerprints, everyone has a unique set of teeth. Even identical twins have different “dental fingerprints”!
- The stone-faced farmer in artist Grant Wood’s famous “American Gothic” painting was actually the artist’s dentist!
- Sports-related injuries account for approximately 5 million missing teeth per year, so make sure you wear a mouth guard, if you or your little ones are athletes.
- Americans spend $100 billion per year on hair care products – and only $2 billion a year on dental care products. What good is great hair without a great smile?
- Contrary to popular belief, George Washington’s famous dentures weren’t made from wood. His four pairs of custom chompers were crafted from gold, ivory, lead and a mixture of human, donkey, and hippopotamus teeth (take care of yours and you won’t have to think about it!).
- The cotton candy making machine that made widely consumed cotton candy possible was co-invented by a dentist. Before it was cotton candy, the fluffy confection was called “fairy floss.”
- 75% of the United States population suffers from some stage of periodontal gum disease. Our mouths are full of bacteria. These bacteria, along with mucus and other particles, constantly form a sticky, colorless “plaque” on teeth. Brushing and flossing help get rid of plaque. Plaque that is not removed can harden and form “tartar” that brushing doesn’t clean, which if left untreated can turn into gum disease.
- People who tend to drink 3 or more glasses of soda daily have 62% more tooth decay, fillings and tooth loss than others. If you habitually drink soda or even sugary juices, you should drink them through a straw and make sure to brush your teeth right after so the sugar doesn’t have time to linger on your teeth.
- Fluoridated toothpastes when ingested habitually by kids can lead to fluoride toxicity. You should make sure to teach your kids to spit out excess toothpaste into the sink and not to swallow it. Too much fluoride could lead to dental fluorosis, which is a cosmetic condition that affects the teeth during the first eight years of life. This is the time when most permanent teeth are being formed.
- You are supposed to replace your toothbrush after you have an episode of flu, cold or other viral infections. Notorious microbes can implant themselves on the toothbrush bristles leading to re-infection. So make sure to get a new toothbrush after you’ve been sick so you don’t re-infect yourself.
- Newborn babies do not have tooth decay bacteria. Often, the bacteria are transmitted from mother to baby when she kisses the child or blows on hot food/drink before feeding the baby.
Sources: OviedioPremierDental.com, ArtisticTouchDentistry.com, DeltaDental.comTop Mexican Restaurants in the Twin Cities
