When you look at a photograph of people, you most likely look at their smiles. And, when taking in their smile, you probably pay attention to their teeth. If they are smiling with their mouth closed, you may ask yourself why. The truth is, we make a lot of assumptions about people based on their smile and their teeth. There are many interesting facts about teeth that help explain why they make such an impression on us and why they are so crucial to science.
5 Random and Interesting Facts About Teeth
Your teeth portray your health, your social status, and the amount of care you put into yourself. Though we may deny it, we often associate perfect smiles with celebrities and those of the upper class, while we associate those with bad teeth as lower class or dysfunctional. Though there are some truths about our teeth’s overall health and our access to healthcare, and the financial means when insurance isn’t enough, it may help to understand some interesting facts about dental care and teeth.
1. People have been practicing dental care for centuries.
Regardless of income or financial means, there is evidence of dental care as far back as 5000 B.C. The Egyptians were believed to use crushed eggshells and animal hooves to clean and polish their teeth. And in the 1700s, a toothbrush’s earliest concept came to be when a British inventor took a bone handle and inserted boar bristles into small holes and secured it with wire. This archaic device would inspire the modern toothbrushes with nylon bristles of the late 1930s and then the electric toothbrush in 1954.
2. Our teeth provide a view of our overall health.
As we alluded to earlier, our teeth can provide a glimpse into who we are. When a dentist looks at your teeth, they can often determine your age, what you eat or drink, and, sometimes, even where you lived. This is why scientists often look at dental records and old teeth to get an idea of past civilizations. We can now get clues into overall health by assessing the state of your oral health.
3. Our teeth are like fingerprints.
If you have ever watched crime scene investigation television shows like “Bones” or “CSI,” you know that teeth are like fingerprints—unique to every person. Forensic odontologists study teeth using radiographs, pathology, dental materials, and developmental abnormalities to determine crime victims’ identities. Further, because teeth are strong, odontologists can also use them to identify a deceased person when no other evidence is available. If you found this interesting, you might also like to know that everyone’s tongue print is as different as their fingerprints. Thankfully, our tongue isn’t used as a way to identify who we are.
4. How you chew depends on your hands.
Have you ever paid attention to which side of the mouth that you chew your food on? The next time you bite into a delicious apple, pay attention to how you chew. You may be surprised to find that if you are right-handed, you will chew your food on your right side, and if you’re left-handed, you will chew your food on your left side. However, chewing food predominantly on one side of your mouth will cause wear and tear on that same side of the mouth. Trying to chew your food on the opposite side is an excellent brain activity and will help lessen wear and tear on your dominant side.
5. Brushing your teeth alone is not enough for proper oral hygiene.
Though the average American will spend nearly 40 total days brushing their teeth throughout their lifetime, just brushing your teeth twice a day isn’t enough to ensure a lifetime of oral care. What you eat and drink plays a significant role in your oral health. For instance, if you drink three or more cans of soda each day, you are 62% more likely to experience tooth decay or tooth loss. If you want to do the best thing for your teeth, brushing twice a day should be accompanied by daily flossing and a daily fluoride rinse, along with twice-a-year visits to see the Tory Hill Team.
The Tory Hill Dental team has more interesting facts about teeth to share.
If you are interested in learning more interesting facts about teeth, why not combine it with one of your twice-a-year visits to see the dentist? Not only would the Tory Hill Dental team love to share some interesting teeth facts with you, but our advanced dental technology will make your visit comfortable and let you leave the office pain-free. Come and experience how easy and comfortable your dental visit can be by calling us or requesting an appointment using our online form. We can’t wait to see you.