Today, we’re ready to drop some jaws with 30 mind-boggling facts about your chompers that are sure to give you a reason to smile. Whether you’re a tooth fanatic, a trivia lover, or just intrigued by the mysteries of the human body, brace yourself for these quirky, strange, and downright crazy facts about teeth from Parkcrest Dental Group!
1) Baby teeth form before birth. Before a baby is even born, the baby teeth, also called milk teeth, are formed in the jaw. They don’t usually start to erupt through the gums until about six months old, though some babies start seeing teeth even earlier.
2) It is rare for a baby to be born with any teeth. However, it can happen. These types of teeth, called natal teeth, are usually underdeveloped or have poorly formed roots, so it is up to the discretion of a dentist whether they should be removed or not.
3) Humans usually have their first full set of teeth by the age of 3. There are usually 20 baby teeth in a child’s mouth, and a child usually begins losing these teeth around age 6.
4) Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25. However, not everyone has them, and occasionally, they are misaligned or cause spacing problems and have to be removed.
5) The tooth is the only part of the human body that can’t heal itself. Brushing, flossing, and regular dentist visits are essential to preventing cavities and other dental problems.
6) The plaque found on your teeth is home to more than 300 different species of bacteria. Most dental plaque is made up of streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli. These two types of bacteria are the primary contributors to tooth decay. Make sure to use an antiseptic mouthwash to kill any germs in your mouth after brushing and flossing!
7) Enamel, which covers the outer part of the tooth, is the hardest substance in the human body. However, it can be worn down by acid and a build-up of bacteria.
8) Tartar is a hard, crusty deposit that can form on the teeth. It is a result of plaque, which is a film of bacteria that hardens on the teeth over time. Tartar can form in as little as 48 hours. It can contribute to tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems.
9) Your spit helps! Saliva plays a significant role in oral health. It protects teeth from decay, helps heal mouth sores, and prevents bad breath by washing away bacteria.
10) Grinding your teeth can wear them down over time. It’s often caused by stress, and most people do it in their sleep without even knowing it. The formal name for teeth grinding is bruxism.
11) The color of your teeth is partly determined by your genetics. Although everyone’s teeth start off as white, certain shades can be genetically predetermined, so more yellow in teeth isn’t necessarily unhealthy.
12) In Norse culture, children who lose their baby teeth are paid a tooth fee by their parents as a reward for growing. This custom is believed to have given birth to the concept of the Tooth Fairy.
13) The Hindu custom of throwing baby teeth onto the roof and asking a sparrow to bring a new, strong tooth also exists in countries such as Greece, Macedonia, India, and China.
14) In Argentina and other Hispanic cultures, instead of a tooth fairy, a character called Raton de Los Dientes, a tooth mouse, collects children’s lost teeth from under their pillows. In exchange, the mouse leaves a small gift or money in return.
15) Teeth are as unique as fingerprints. Even identical twins have different dental patterns. This is why dental records can be used for identification.
16) Cavities are the second-most common disease in the United States, surpassed only by the common cold.
17) Human teeth are quite versatile, allowing us to enjoy a wide range of foods. We have incisors for biting, canines for tearing, and premolars and molars for grinding. Carnivorous animals have sharp, pointed teeth for tearing flesh, while herbivores have flatter, grinding teeth for plant material.
18) The earliest known dental work was on a woman who lived 13,000 years ago in Italy. Her front teeth have been found to have been scraped with a tool, likely to treat an infection or abscess.
19) About 75% of school children worldwide have active dental cavities.
Related Post: 10 Fun Ways to Teach Dental Hygiene to Kids
20) A lack of Vitamin D can make individuals more susceptible to tooth decay. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and boosts the immune system
21) Cavities and gum disease can contribute to more serious conditions, like diabetes and heart disease. Bacteria from cavities can enter the bloodstream and move to different parts of the body, potentially causing inflammation and diseases elsewhere, including the heart.
22) Plaque begins to form on teeth 4 to 12 hours after brushing. It’s important to brush at least twice a day to help prevent this.
Related Post: Cavities FAQs
23) Dentistry as a formal practice is thought to have existed since 7000 BCE, making it over 9,000 years old. Evidence of early dentistry has been found in ancient civilizations such as the Indus Valley Civilization (in Pakistan and Northern India) and Ancient Egypt.
24) The high-speed dental drill was invented in 1957, revolutionizing dental care. This drill improved speed, accuracy, pain management, and availability of different procedures.
25) National Brush Day is celebrated by dentists on November 1st to encourage better dental health after Halloween candy indulgence.
26) Humans have two sets of teeth during their lifetime – deciduous teeth (baby teeth) and permanent teeth. Most animals, except some mammals like dogs and cats, continuously grow new teeth throughout their lives.
27) Humans and some other mammals like elephants are diphyodonts, meaning they develop two sets of teeth during their lifetime. In contrast, many other animals, such as reptiles and fish, are polyphyodonts, growing multiple sets of teeth throughout their lives.
28) Human teeth have a much smaller size-to-body ratio compared to many animals. For instance, a Tyrannosaurus rex’s tooth can measure up to 12 inches, much larger than a human tooth relative to body size.
29) Unlike animals such as sharks that can grow new teeth to replace lost ones, humans can only naturally replace their teeth once. If we lose a permanent tooth, it won’t grow back. But we have dentures and dental implants to replace them, if necessary!
30) Humans usually have symmetrical teeth, with the upper and lower jaws mirroring each other. This is not always the case in animals. For example, a narwhal has a single spiral tusk, while the other tooth often remains embedded in the skull.
Parkcrest Dental Group in Springfield, Missouri
We provide general dentistry services, as well as pediatric dentistry and orthodontics in Springfield, MO. Visit us online to book an appointment or call us at 417-887-1220.
