What can we say, we’re just fascinated about teeth at Nixa Smiles!

To brighten up your Monday, here are some fun facts about teeth that you may not know!

1. Enamel is the hardest part of the human body
2. We produce 100,000 gallons of saliva in a lifetime. Saliva helps wash the food and drink off your teeth.
3. Your teeth are as unique as your fingerprints. Can you say, one of a kind??
4. 50% of people say a SMILE is the first thing they notice about someone new
5. Your teeth have started to develop before you were born
6. Adults have 32 teeth, Dogs have 42 teeth, Cats have 30 teeth, Mosquitos have 47 teeth
7. The average person spends 38 days brushing their teeth over their lifetime
8. A tooth cannot repair itself like your skin can
9. It takes 47 muscles to frown and only 17 to smile
10. Tooth decay is the 2nd most common disease in the U.S. after the common cold.  https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001055.htm

Bonus Fact:  Some people genetically have missing teeth and some have a few extra teeth! How about those fun facts about teeth?

Want more fun facts about teeth?

But wait a minute, we aren’t the only ones with teeth.  Animals have fascinating teeth too!

1. Crocodiles don’t clean their teeth.  Small, Egyptian Plover, birds pick the leftovers off of their teeth while the crocodile’s mouth is open.
2. George Washington had denture teeth made out of hippopotamus teeth.  They did this because hippo teeth don’t yellow over time.  Denture teeth today are made out of porcelain or resin.
3. Some rodent teeth never stop growing.  They chew on fibrous roots and twigs that wear the teeth down over time.
4. Sharks replace their teeth quite frequently.  This keeps their teeth extra sharp.
5. The longest teeth in the world are elephant teeth aka tusks.
6. Dogs and cats are prone to dental decay too.  They benefit from regular cleanings just like us.

Do you know something else unique about teeth?  We would love to hear your fun facts about teeth from you in the comment box below!

Dr. Kelly Dove