You might think that ancient people didn’t care about their dental health, unlike people today, due to the lack of records of dentists in the past. However, despite the lack of dentists, people have been taking care of their teeth since 500 BC. The ancient Greeks and Romans used mixtures with crushed coral powder and iron rust to clean their teeth. The old toothbrush was made from tree twigs that people chewed to freshen their breath.
Fortunately, we don’t have to use crushed husks or chew a twig to clean our teeth. Due to the advancement of technology, dental care is easily accessible to us. We have various tools and equipment with which we can clean teeth and even improve and beautify them. However, prevention is still much better than cure, so it’s important to know more about our teeth and the behaviors that can affect them in order to protect our precious smile. We don’t want our smile to look like a twitch, do we? So read these 10 most interesting facts about our teeth.
1. Teeth are icebergs in the mouth
What we see in an iceberg is only a third, just like our teeth. There is much more than what our eyes can see through our teeth, which are covered by our gums. This is why we must always make sure that our gums are firm and pink so that they can protect our teeth well.
2. Your teeth are as unique as you are
Just like your fingerprint, your teeth are unique and cannot be copied by anyone else. This is why dental records can be used to identify and identify human remains. Even if you have an identical twin, they cannot have the same teeth as yours. It’s the same with your special tongue print.
3. You have 16 lower and 16 upper teeth
From the back of your mouth to the front, you have 12 molars, 8 premolars, 2 pairs of canines and 8 incisors, making a total of 32 teeth.
4. The hardest part of the body is enamel
The outer layer of your teeth is called enamel. It serves as a hard shell of the teeth that protects them. Like our bones, it is composed of phosphate and calcium, which makes it a strong bone. However, due to its crystallites and special protein, it is harder than bones and the hardest part of our body.
5. Yellow teeth can indicate caries
It’s not just an ordinary coffee or tea stain. One of the reasons why teeth look white is tooth enamel. And when your teeth start to turn yellow, it can indicate decay and can also be one of the reasons why you feel pain in your gums.
6. The hardest, but not invincible
Superman has his kryptonite; therefore, even the strongest still has its weakness. Our enamel may be the hardest to protect our teeth, but it is not invincible from cavities and cracks. Acids and sugars are the enemies of enamel, and they are found in chocolates and carbonated drinks. These enemies can interact with bacteria that later attack our enamel and can cause tooth decay. Carbonated drinks are not good for our kidneys and teeth. Limit your intake of soft drinks if you want to protect your smile and teeth.
7. It is not enamel that grows, but dentin
Did you know that the layer under your enamel is stronger and more compact than your bones? This layer is called dentin, made up of small passages and canals that carry food and nerve signals through the teeth. The three types of dentin are namely; primary, secondary and reparative. Unlike enamel, our dentin is constantly changing and growing throughout our lives.
8. 300 types of bacteria can be found in our mouths
Plaque carries trillions of bacteria, made up of 200 to 300 different types of bacteria. The bacterium Streptococcus mutans is responsible for bad dental health. These bacteria modify other carbohydrates and sugar into acids that contribute to tooth decay.
9. Make about 10,000 gallons of saliva
Your body produces about 10,000 liters of saliva every day. Saliva is essential to our overall health. Saliva helps us wash away food particles. It contains phosphate and calcium, which play a major role in neutralizing acids in plaque, which damage our teeth. Furthermore, saliva helps in swallowing food and facilitates digestion.
10. The plaque is the culprit
A sticky substance that keeps growing and can harden and become tartar if not removed regularly by flossing and brushing. Regular teeth cleaning is also recommended to keep the teeth healthy.
