1. Every Tooth Is Unique
Your teeth are uniquely yours. Like a fingerprint, every person’s teeth align in a different way. Your teeth are different from everyone else’s teeth, which is why teeth can be a vital resource in forensic science.
From the 20 baby teeth we have as children to the 32 adult teeth that serve us far into our lifetime, no tooth looks exactly the same. The shape and size of a tooth are individual to you, just as no snowflake has the same shape.
2. Enamel Is the Hardest Part of Your Body
Teeth have several layers, but the substance that guards your teeth and keeps them strong is called enamel. Enamel is a hard calcified cover that surrounds and protects your teeth. It is the hardest material in your body, even stronger than your bones. That strength is an impressive quality of enamel. It protects your teeth against acidic substances and keeps your teeth durable so they do not chip or break easily.
You want to keep up with your regular dentist visits and practice good oral hygiene between appointments because enamel cannot heal itself if it gets worn away or damaged. You need to take care of your enamel so you can have a strong smile for a long time.
3. Cleaning Between Your Teeth Is as Important as Cleaning What Is Visible
It is easy to brush the top, bottom and sides of your teeth, but in between your teeth is likely a different story.
Cleaning in between your teeth is a crucial factor in keeping your enamel healthy and strong. Much of our enamel is between our teeth, and the build-up of bacteria, plaque and tartar can harm and weaken enamel. Remembering to floss every day and scheduling regular dental cleanings can help monitor substance build-up between your teeth. Your dentist can also provide tips on cleaning between your teeth.
4. Your Teeth Are Determined at Birth
Babies have their first teeth ready before they are born. When you arrive into the world, your 20 baby teeth are already in place under your gums until they are ready to breakthrough. Baby teeth typically start to come in when a child is around 6 months old.
Adult teeth form throughout early childhood until they first appear around ages 6 years old to 8 years old, but some adult teeth do not come in until a person is in their 20s.
5. An Average Person Spends 38.5 Days Brushing Their Teeth
Brushing your teeth does not take a long time, but over a lifetime, those minutes add up to 38.5 days. Brushing for 38.5 days is like brushing your teeth for a little over a month without stopping. This fact shows that brushing our teeth is an important part of our health.
Dental experts recommend people brush their teeth twice a day for about two minutes each time. In the morning and in the evening, you should brush away all the bacteria and food substances that have built up in your mouth. You want to keep your teeth healthy and strong, and brushing regularly is the best way to maintain good dental hygiene.
6. You Produce 10,000 Gallons of Spit in a Lifetime
You recycle most of the saliva you produce because of constantly swelling and reabsorbing it into your body. But, you do produce about a quart of saliva a day, which contributes to the astounding number of 10,000 gallons of spit throughout your lifetime. If you have trouble imagining how much 10,000 gallons is, that can about fill up an entire home swimming pool.
Saliva is essential to our health because it helps us successfully swallow food and digest it. Spit also helps clean away food particles that stick on your teeth, which helps protect your teeth from build-up.
7. Enamel Does Not Grow
The enamel on your teeth now is what you have to take care of. Many substances can weaken enamel, and it cannot heal itself.
You want strong teeth so you can chew food without worrying about your teeth breaking or chipping. Protect the strong covering on your teeth by brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day and cleaning in between your teeth.
8. Teeth Are Like Icebergs
It is essential to keep your gums clean and healthy because most of your teeth are under your gums. Like an iceberg, a small portion of a tooth is visible above the surface. But underneath is a large piece of the tooth your gums protect.
If you have other questions that a dentist could answer or want to schedule an appointment with our team, feel free to visit book your dental appointment.