Dental Fun Facts

Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body; however, we do NOT recommend that you use your pearly whites to open bottles! The plaque found on your teeth is home to more than 300 different species of bacteria. The average person spends about 48 seconds per day brushing their teeth, but dentists recommend at least 2 or 3 minutes. In China, in 1498, the first toothbrush with bristles was made, using hair from hogs, horses, and badgers. The first official commercial toothbrush was manufactured in 1938. A snail’s mouth is no larger than the head of a pin, but can contain over 25,000 teeth! In early America, blacksmiths often also served as dentists. How about a tooth filling to go with your new horse shoes?! In Egypt, mummies have been found with fillings comprised of resin and malachite, and gold wire was used to bind together loose teeth. The Romans, in 200 AD, used pretty impressive dental technology! They restored cavity-ridden teeth with gold crowns, and utilized fixed bridgework to fix gaps from missing teeth. They also used a form of toothpaste concocted from honey and crushed eggshells. In Medieval Germany, the only cure for a toothache was to kiss a donkey. The average woman smiles about 62 times per day! A man? Only 8. Sports-related injuries account for approximately 5 million missing teeth per year, so make sure you wear a mouthguard, if you or your little ones are athletes.