Did you know that the average American spends as long as 38.5 days brushing their teeth over their lifetime? However, this might not be surprising when you consider how precious our teeth are.

In light of this interesting statistic, we thought it’d be fun to compile a list of little-known facts about teeth. So, without further ado, let’s dive on in!

1. Your Enamel Is More Impressive Than You Think

For those of you who don’t know what enamel is, it’s the outer layer of our teeth. Shockingly, it’s harder than any other substance in our bodies.

Despite its sturdiness, the enamel can crack, so we need to make sure we look after it well.

If you want to take care and preserve your enamel, we suggest staying away from acidic drinks and foods. These are notorious for softening this hard coating and causing irreparable damage.

We also recommend brushing your teeth after consuming these kinds of foods approximately an hour after you’ve eaten them. By doing this, you’ll limit the likelihood of enamel erosion.

2. The Side We Chew on Isn’t an Accident

The side we chew on directly correlates with the hand we’re most comfortable writing with. Therefore if you’re left-handed, you’re more likely to chew on the left side, and if you’re right-handed you’re more likely to eat on the right- who knew?!

3. Your Teeth Are One of a Kind

Interestingly, tooth prints are unique to each individual, just like fingerprints. Its shape, placement, and size compose the style of the print.

4. What You See of Your Tooth Is Just the Tip of the Iceberg

Astonishingly, we only see a meer two-thirds of our tooth. The gum conceals the final third, which is mainly the root of the tooth.

5. Not Everyone Has Wisdom Teeth

Not everyone will grow wisdom teeth, as many as 35% of people won’t have to worry about the potential pains and complications these growths inflict.

Scientists also predict that one day far in the future none of us will ever grow wisdom teeth as we don’t need them.

6. Teeth Can’t Repair Themselves

Your teeth can’t repair themselves, so you’ll have to make sure you don’t break, crack, or lose your teeth. Unfortunately, we can’t regrow our smile the same way we can repair our bones.

We suggest having regular checkups with your dentist to keep any complications with your teeth at bay. Be sure to check out Bishopsgate Dental Care and see how they could help you.

7. We’ve Been Fascinated with Teeth for Centuries

The Mayans who roamed the earth almost 2,500 years ago, loved their teeth and undertook an extensive study of them. Their dentists used the first kind of oral drill to adorn their teeth with precious stones.

In addition to this, they would also reshape or cut their teeth to make them look more aesthetically pleasing. We can only imagine how painful these procedures would be!

8. Some People Never Lose Their Baby Teeth

Usually, we lose our first baby teeth around the age of five, and typically by the time we’re teenagers these all will have fallen out and been replaced with adult teeth.

However, sometimes people don’t have another tooth to replace their milk tooth. In situations like this, the baby tooth will just stay its place.

9. A Dentist Invented the Electric Chair

In light of this fact perhaps it’s not so irrational that many of us fear the dentist! Back in 1881, Alfred P. Southwick (a prestigious dentist) observed a man accidentally contacting a generator terminal and dying.

Consequently, Southwick thought that electrocution was a more humane way to die than other forms of legal punishment practiced at the time.

Not only did he have the original idea but he also worked tirelessly to promote the electric chair to the lawmakers, and eventually his methods came to effect in 1889.

The first man to endure electrocution was a man convicted of murdering his mistress.

10. You Should Stop Using Toothbrush Caps

If you use a toothbrush cap after cleaning your teeth, you should stop. You need to allow your toothbrush to get some air.

A lid traps moisture inside the small space which increases the likelihood of bacterial growth. Needless to say, this can be detrimental to your health- and just gross!

11. We’ve Used Toothbrushes for Centuries

The first toothbrush that resembles the tool we use today was found in China and created in 1498. So, toothbrushes have been used by humans for centuries!

However, these were often crafted using bristles from hogs, horses, and badgers! It wasn’t until 1938 that commercial toothbrushes stocked the shelves, which thankfully weren’t made from animal hair!

12. Isaac Newton’s Teeth Were Worth Big Bucks

Who knew that old teeth could be worth so much money?! Shockingly, one of Sir Isaac Newton’s teeth was sold back in 1816 for as much as $3,633 (that’s a whopping $35,700 in today’s terms).

The man who purchased this treasure decided to set it in a ring- what a bizarre fashion accessory!

Did You Enjoy These Interesting Facts About Teeth?

If you enjoyed these fascinating facts about teeth then we’re confident you’ll love the other features on our ‘amazing science blog’.

Over there we discuss everything from revolutionary umbrellas to the coca cola powered cell phone. Enjoy!

Alternatively, if you have any questions or concerns about either the content in this blog post or about our website generally, please feel free to drop us a line and we’ll be more than happy to help. Speak soon!