Fun and Interesting Facts about Dentistry & Teeth

Did you know toothaches are worse at night? Or that teeth are as unique as fingerprints, even for identical twins?

Digging into the world of dentistry and teeth is fascinating. The science behind perfect smiles and healthy mouths is mind-boggling, making learning about this field exciting and delightful.

Here are 39 interesting facts about dentistry and fun facts about teeth that you probably didn’t know:

Dentistry Facts

1. Modern toothbrushes have over 25,000 individual strands arranged in 40 spectacular clusters.¹
2. The world of dentistry has a rich history that dates back to 7000 B.C., making it one of the most ancient medical professions.²
3. One of the planet’s hardest substances is your tooth enamel. However, it’s highly vulnerable to acid-producing bacteria.²
4. Average Americans commit 38.5 days brushing their teeth in a lifetime.³
5. Blue toothbrushes are the most popular toothbrushes, leaving red ones in second place.³

Teeth Facts

1. The magical tooth fairy’s generosity has soared from 25 cents in the 1950s to a generous $2 per tooth today.³
2. No two sets of teeth are identical. In fact, not even twins share the same dental blueprint.³
3. Each tooth in your mouth is uniquely shaped and sized, making your smile truly one-of-a-kind.³
4. Your pearly whites can give insights into your nutrition and age. They can also provide hints about your well-being, including tension and overall health.³
5. Nearly 8 out of 10 (78%) Americans sport a cavity before their 18th birthday.³

Mouth Facts

1. Your dominant hand influences your chewing- righties munch on the right, while lefties savor their bites on the left.¹
2. Your body pumps out a daily average of two to six cups of saliva. It’s the busiest in the afternoon while slowing down at night.⁴
3. More than 700 different kinds of bacteria live in your mouth.⁴
4. Ten seconds of kissing can swap around 80 million bacteria. Therefore, monogamous couples are likely to share the same bacterial types.⁴
5. About 33% of each tooth lies beneath your gums. So, take care of them by keeping them firm and pink.⁵

Smile Facts

1. Children flash their joyful grins 400 times daily.¹
2. Ladies smile about 62 times a day, while the gents trail behind with a mere eight daily smirks.¹
3. Smiling sparks a chain reaction where your brain senses muscle movement, effectively “tricking” it into believing you’re happy.⁶
4. Faking a grin can calm your heartbeat and ease tension.⁶
5. Neurons get triggered when witnessing an action, making smiles contagious.⁶

Floss Facts

1. A spool of floss can stretch up to 200 yards long.²
2. 15 to 18 inches of floss is all you need to clean your teeth effectively.⁸
3. Neglecting to floss leaves 40% of your teeth’s surface untouched and unclean.³
4. Gum disease affects over 46% of the population, making flossing a top priority.⁷
5. Use wide and flat dental tapes for your little ones. They navigate the larger gaps between their tiny teeth better than regular floss.⁸

Dental History Facts

Toothbrush

1. The first use of toothbrushes was traced back as early as 4,000 BC in India. The Hindus would fray fresh twigs into fibers to create an effective dental hygiene tool.¹
2. The Babylonians called their version of a toothbrush “chewing stick” back in 3500 B.C.¹
3. Back in 1600, the Chinese were brushing their teeth using hog bristles. Then, in 1780, an Englishman named William Addis revolutionized dental care by inventing a toothbrush with swine bristles and a cattle bone handle.¹
4. In 1857, American inventor H.N. Wadsworth gifted the world the first toothbrush resembling modern ones. Dr. Meyer Rhein then enhanced this with a patented three-row design of serrated bristles and larger tufts. Soon after, synthetic fibers replaced swine bristles.¹
5. Toothbrushes with plastic handles and gentle nylon bristles finally emerged in 1938.¹
6. At the end of World War II, people began discussing daily toothbrushing habits as an integral part of public health.¹
7. The U.S. started producing electric toothbrushes in 1960.¹

Toothpaste

1. Ancient civilizations in China and India took care of their pearly whites with their versions of toothpaste since 500 B.C.¹
2. A dentist in 1824 infused soap into toothpaste. As the 1850s rolled in, compounds like flavors and chalk joined the mix.¹
3. Our ancestors crafted their toothpaste from peculiar yet fascinating ingredients like pulverized oyster shells, ox hoof powder, ground bones, and eggshells.²
4. Post-WWII, a quest for healthier smiles led to the discovery of fluoride.¹

Floss

1. Remains from early pre-humans and American Indians revealed traces of floss-like materials wedged between their teeth.¹
2. In 1815, Levi Spear Parmly invented dental floss made from silk threads. 67 years later, in Massachusetts, the Codman and Shurtleft Company started manufacturing their unwaxed silk floss. Johnson & Johnson joined the industry with their version crafted from surgical sutures by 1896.¹

Medic Dr. Charles Bass discovered the power of flosses made of nylon. He realized that its durability, vast supply, and uniformity could dethrone silk, which was infamous for its tendency to shred.¹