We spend a lot of time encouraging our patients to stick to good habits that will protect their teeth and keep their mouths strong and beautiful. As serious as oral health is, though, that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun once in a while. Your dentist in Superior has collected some fascinating and entertaining facts that might just change the way you think about your smile!
Your Remarkable Mouth
- Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. It is even stronger than steel! However, it is much more brittle, which means you should never use your chompers to open packages or chew on ice.
- Just like your fingerprints, your tongue print and teeth prints are unique to you. That’s why your cosmetic dentist in Superior has to be so careful when they’re creating crowns or bridges to restore your smile.
- You don’t reach 40 percent of your teeth’s surface area when you brush, a fact that underscores the importance of daily flossing.
- There are usually hundreds of different types of bacteria in your mouth. Before you get grossed out, though, remember that most of those bacteria are harmless or even helpful. There are only a handful of types that are responsible for problems like tooth decay and gum disease.
Your Daily Habits
- What color toothbrush do you use? If you answered, “blue,” then you’re in the majority. Red brushes are much less popular.
- Most people only brush their teeth for 45 to 70 seconds. To get your mouth thoroughly clean, though, you should dedicate at east two minutes to this part of your daily routine.
- Women smile an average of 62 times per day. Men only smile about eight times.
- Grown-ups should find more reasons to laugh. On average, adults laugh only 15 times a day. Kids laugh about 400 times each day.
- Folks who drink three or more glasses of soda each day have 62 percent more fillings, tooth decay, and tooth loss than people who don’t indulge as much in sugary drinks. That’s because a single can of soda can have up to 12 teaspoons of sugar in it.
- Nearly 80 percent of Americans have had at least one cavity by age 17.
Other Fun Facts
- A snail’s mouth is the size of a pinhead, but they can have over 25,000 teeth! There is even one species of snail whose teeth are harder than diamonds.
- Elephants grind their molars and grew new ones — up to six times throughout their life. A single elephant molar can weigh six pounds.
- The tooth is the only part of the human body that can’t heal itself. That’s why preventive dentistry is so vital.
- There are 19 different types of smiles, and you can recognize a smile from up to 300 feet away.
Love fun dental facts? So do we! Why not share these tidbits of information with your friends so you can be amazed together?
About Hill Avenue Dental
The two talented dentists in our practice are passionate about caring for your teeth and sharing their knowledge of all things that relate to oral health. If you have any questions about how to keep your smile in the best shape possible, please contact our office at 715-392-5161.