Our teeth are used for everyday activities like chewing, smiling, and even speaking; making them one of the most important and unique parts of the human body. But there might be some facts you didn’t’ know about your teeth that might amaze you:
1. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body.
That’s right, the stuff that our teeth are made up of is the hardest, sturdiest part of the body. According to Discover Magazine, enamel is “harder than a copper bullet but slightly less hard than a stainless-steel fork.” Pretty impressive!
2. All teeth are completely one-of-a-kind
While teeth are not as unique to a person as a fingerprint, they are still used in identifying a person’s size, age, and ethnicity. Today, dental records can be used to help identify a deceased body or establish an unknown person’s identity.
3. Teeth are covered in germs
There are around 25,000 different species of bacteria living in your plaque at any given time! This bacteria latches onto the teeth and creates a dental biofilm, also known as plaque. This is why brushing before bed is very important!
4. Too much fluoride can be a bad thing.
While it’s common knowledge that fluoride is an important element in keeping your teeth healthy and clean, too much can actually hurt your teeth, especially with the youngsters. Make sure when your child first starts brushing, they’re not swallowing fluoride or applying too much to the toothbrush.
5. The first teeth in history were formed outside the mouth
Research has shown that the first discovery of teeth, which was found in a prehistoric shark-resembling fish, were actually grown “wrapping around the lips onto the outside of the head” according to an article by Discovery News.
