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Ten Things You Might Not Know About Your Teeth

March 19, 2021

Filed under: Uncategorized — markelawtondds @ 8:17 pm
woman smiling

You may never have given a large amount of thought to your teeth. They are easy to take for granted, but every day, they help you chew your food, have great conversations, and do plenty of other things you probably don’t even realize. They may seem like a pretty ordinary body part, but your Houston dentist has ten facts to share about them that might surprise you.

Ten Not-So-Ordinary Facts About Your Teeth

Outside of eating, smiling for pictures, and daily oral hygiene, you probably don’t give a whole lot of consideration to your teeth. Check out these ten interesting facts that you may not be aware of when it comes to your pearly whites:

  1. Your teeth are totally unique! Just like your fingerprints, no one else in the entire world has a single tooth like yours. If you’ve ever watched a detective show, you may have noticed the investigators using dental records to identify a victim, and this is why!
  2. Teeth are very similar to icebergs. Did you know that only two-thirds of your teeth are visible when you smile? The other one-third of each tooth is hidden beneath the gums. This is how they stay safe from infection-causing bacteria.
  3. The average mouth has thirty-two teeth. Your mouth likely contains eight incisors, four canine teeth, eight premolars, eight molars, and four wisdom teeth. It is interesting to note that some people are born without all four wisdom teeth!
  4. The enamel on your teeth is the strongest substance in your body. It is made up of a mix of phosphate and calcium, and believe it or not, it is even stronger than your bones because of the crystallites and proteins in it.
  5. It may be strong, but enamel is not invincible. The reason that teeth become more susceptible to cavities and wear and tear is because of enamel loss. In order to avoid this, make sure you don’t over-indulge in sugar or foods and drinks that are extremely acidic.
  6. Yellow teeth might signal decay. In some cases, yellow teeth can be caused by the water someone grew up drinking or just genetics. In other cases, a tooth that stands out as being more yellow than its neighbors may signal decay that needs to be examined and treated by a dentist.  
  7. There is a part of your teeth that will never stop growing. There is a layer underneath your teeths’ enamel called dentin. It contains passageways that help transmit nutrition to the tooth and the nerves that cause you to feel sensitivity. While your enamel will never repair itself, the dentin will continue to regenerate throughout your entire lifetime.
  8. Your Mouth is Full of Bacteria! It may sound gross, but it’s true. There are over three hundred thousand different types of bacteria in your mouth. They convert sugar into acid, which is then responsible for wearing down enamel. This is just another reason why it’s so crucial to floss and brush your teeth each day.
  9. Plaque build-up has very serious consequences. If not removed daily, plaque can begin to build up around your teeth and gums and cause decay or infection. It’s also important to see your dentist twice per year so that your dental hygienist can deep clean your teeth.
  10. Every day your mouth produces an entire quart of saliva! That’s a lot of spit, but it’s there for a good reason. Saliva is produced by your body as a natural way of rinsing bacteria out of your mouth. Make sure you’re staying hydrated every day in order to help with the process.

The more you know about your teeth, the likelier you are to appreciate and take good care of them. If it has been a while since you’ve seen your dentist, make sure to get an appointment scheduled so they can help keep your smile looking fabulous.

About the Author

For almost two decades, Dr. Mark E. Lawton has been helping his patients have the smiles of their dreams. He believes that the best oral care starts with education, and he will stop at nothing to make sure that everyone he cares for has the opportunity to learn how to take care of their teeth. He has years of experience and training under his belt, and that enables him to provide the highest level of care. Are you ready to schedule an appointment? You can do so online or call (281) 447-2186.

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