10 Fun Facts About Teeth That Will Surprise You

Fun Facts About Teeth That Will Surprise You

Your teeth are not only one of the most important parts of your body but also your personality. After all, nothing is more appealing than a clean, bright, and confident smile. According to stats, the first thing more than 37 percent of people notice about you is your smile.

It’s only one of the reasons why you should keep your teeth healthy. Better yet, there is a lot more to your shiny white teeth than meets the eye. Read on to find 10 fascinating facts about teeth to stump your family members and friends.

1. Your Each Tooth is Unique

It’s safe to say that your teeth are just like your fingerprints. It means that they are unique to you, and even identical twins don’t have identical teeth. 

The NCBI research shows that your bite marks are unique, just like your DNA and fingerprints. Each and every tooth is also unique, and that’s why dental records are often used to identify individuals. 

Another surprising fact, not exactly related to teeth, is that your tongue print is also unique to you!  

2. Every Human is Born with A Set of Teeth

Almost all babies are born with a gummy smile, but it certainly doesn’t mean that they don’t possess teeth. Almost all infants are born with teeth formed beneath their gums’ surface.

However, some babies are born with teeth called natal teeth. According to NCBI, the ratio of this phenomenon is only 1:2,000 – 1:3,000.

These teeth are known as milk teeth, and they break through the surface of gums during the baby’s teething phase.

3. You Have 4 Different Types of Teeth

You Have 4 Different Types of Teeth

Humans are omnivores which means that they can eat and digest both meat and vegetation. The research shows that through the process of evolution, we have developed 4 different types of teeth called:

  • Incisors
  • Premolars
  • Molars
  • Canine

These different types of teeth allow us to chew and eat a wide variety of foods available to us. Each type serves a different purpose, including mashing or cutting, grinding food, and tearing apart hard foods.

4. A Normal Person Spends Over A Month of their Life Brushing Teeth

According to NADP stats, an average human being spends about 38.5 days brushing their teeth over a lifetime. It might seem too much, but it’s definitely worth it.

Not only does a solid brushing routine ensure your oral well-being, but it also keeps you from falling victim to a lot of other diseases.

According to MayoClinic, bad oral health can lead to a range of different diseases such as endocarditis, cardiovascular issues, pregnancy and birth complications, pneumonia, and more.  

5. Your Teeth are Home to 300 Bacterium Species

Several NCBI studies show that your mouth and teeth are home to 200 to 300 different species of bacteria. Many of these species eat different substances present in your food, including sugar. These bacteria are found in plaque that builds up on your teeth.

Some of these species also produce harmful chemicals that affect your dental enamel. That’s why it’s recommended to schedule a dental checkup at least once after every 6 months. You should also brush and floss regularly to get rid of plaque buildup.

6. Your Teeth are the Strongest Part of Your Body

Did you know that your teeth are stronger than your bones? The white outer layer, also called enamel, is made of phosphate and calcium, just like your other bones. However, the presence of certain protein types makes the enamel even stronger than bones.

It also allows you to break down and chew tough foods and also enables your teeth to deal with different substances such as acids present in your diet.

7. Your Teeth Can Last A Lifetime

Your Teeth Can Last A Lifetime

It’s not uncommon to lose some teeth as you grow old, but your teeth are naturally designed to last a lifetime. The biggest culprit that makes our teeth weaker is the type of food we eat. 

Although our dental knowledge has increased in the past few decades, our diets have become worse.

Most food items that we eat contain sugar, and it’s the worst thing for your teeth. As mentioned earlier, our teeth have a lot of bacteria that break down sugar to produce harmful substances.

Many people also like to snack on sweet food items all day long, making things worse. It’s important to be careful and restrict your sugar intake if you want your teeth to last a lifetime.

8. Tooth Decay is One of the Most Common Diseases All Around the World

According to WHO (World Health Organization), about 3.5 billion people suffer from some sort of oral health problem. Additionally, NCBI reports that dental caries are one of the most prevalent health problems among human beings.

Tooth decay and gum diseases are the two main types of oral health issues, and you can keep both of them at bay by brushing and flossing regularly. You should brush your teeth 2 times a day for 2 minutes each in order to achieve maximum benefits.

9. Your Saliva is Natural Teeth Cleaner

Your mouth normally produces a lot of salivae which keeps your teeth healthy. Not only does it wash away food particles, bacteria, and acid from your mouth, but it also assists in digesting food.

If you are experiencing a dry mouth, you should immediately consult with your dentist because it’s a medical condition called xerostomia. It usually happens because of high potency medication, and your saliva glands fail to keep your mouth wet.

10. Your Teeth Explain A lot About Your Personal Life

Your dentist can learn a lot about your personal life just by examining your teeth. For example, your dentist will know if you are consuming food with too much acid or sugar, whether you are stressed out, or if you are flossing and brushing regularly or not.

Historians and anthropologists can also learn about the quality of life, hygiene practices, and dietary habits of a population just by examining their teeth.

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