Find out the odd truth about teeth and your dental hygiene…
We’ve all had our mothers admonish us to “brush our teeth three times a day”, but how many of us have simply ignored that? Oral hygiene is a very important part of a healthy life! Check out these odd, weird, and interesting facts about your dental hygiene and teeth in general:
- Enamel is the hardest thing on or in the human body. It’s even harder than bone, and much more resilient.
- Teeth whitening has been around for centuries. Unfortunately, the methods of teeth whitening used were once very harsh–so harsh, in fact, that they often caused the person’s teeth to fall out!
- Teeth decay was believed to be the result of worms in the gums. Before the 14th century, worms were supposed to be the cause of tooth decay.
- Some babies are born with teeth. This is because teeth are always forming beneath the gums from the time that they are in the womb.
- You can spend as many as forty days out of your entire life brushing your teeth. If you spend just two minutes brushing your teeth twice a day, that’s 40 days of your life spent with a toothbrush in your hand.
- Cheese can stop tooth decay. In particular, Swiss, Cheddar, and Monterrey Jack are three cheeses not only high in calcium, but which have been proven to help prevent tooth decay.
- Your teeth are as unique as your fingerprints. You can be identified by your set of teeth.
- You usually have your first dental visit before your fourth birthday. Most children visit the dentist for the first time around the age of three years old.
- Braces have been around for nearly 300 years. The first set of braces was invented way back in 1728, in France. The strips of metal were attached to the teeth using thread.
- Americans love their dental floss. More than 3 million miles of dental floss are purchased in the United States every year.
READ MORE: Natural Teeth Brighteners
- A lack of flossing can lead to serious oral problems. Did you know that up to 35% of your teeth’s surface DOESN’T get cleaned if you don’t take the time to floss? Just brushing will only clean MOST of your teeth, but not all!
- Tooth decay is America’s second most common disease. Only the common cold occurs more frequently than tooth decay in the United States.
- Toothbrushes need to be changed every three months, not every six. Manual toothbrushes wear out fairly quickly, losing their effectiveness within just three months. For this reason, you need to change your toothbrush more often.
- Rinse with hot water. Instead of rinsing your toothbrush with cold water, use hot water. It will get rid of any bacteria or viruses on the toothbrush.
- Replace after use when sick. If you’ve got a flu, a cough, or some form of viral infection, you need to replace the toothbrush after you’re healed. It will prevent the infection from returning.
- Soda increases tooth decay. According to dentists, you have a 62% greater chance of developing cavities and needing a filling if you drink more than two glasses of soda each day.
- Skipping the dentist can lead to missing work. Adults in the U.S. missed a total of 164 million work hours in the last year alone, with children missing 51 million school hours.
- Humans have only two sets of teeth in their entire life. Pays to keep them clean!
- Brushing gently is the way to go. Harder is NOT better!
- Coke the worst for your teeth. The ingredients in Coca Cola eat away at the enamel protecting your teeth.
