Dental Facts, Presented
Dental facts for your enjoyment
As part of Minovi Dental‘s ongoing efforts to promote good oral health, we would like to present to you a few facts about our domain: your teeth.
Did you know that at least 3 out of every 4 Americans suffer from some form of periodontal disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss for people over 35? That means that 75% of people surveyed suffer from periodontal disease!On a side note: 100% of teeth that fell out reported feelings of abandonment.
The first toothbrush with bristles was made in China in 1498. The bristles were made from horse, hog, and badger hair. Personally, I’m trying to hunt one down with unicorn hair. The unicorn hair bristles in conjunction with phoenix-tear fortified fluoride tooth paste would, I’m sure, be the best combo. This could be one of my favorite dental facts.
A small zoological dental fact: A snail’s mouth is no larger than the head of a pin, but can contain more than 25,000 teeth. Us humans only have about 32. So the next time you think that flossing takes too long, think about how much trouble it is for the poor snail! Of course the lack of opposable thumbs…or any limbs for that matter, might make it hard for the snail.
You know those headaches you sometimes get? Yeah, those. Those can actually be caused by a little something called bruxism. Bruxism is the term used for grinding and clenching your teeth. When you clench or grind your teeth your also putting a lot of strain on your TMJ (temporomandibular joint; the joint and muscles that control your jaw and chewing), and as a result, the TMJ will tense up and make the neck muscles tense up as well, this will result in deep headaches that don’t seem to go away. Sometimes a person doesn’t even know they have it going on. If you may suspect you do it, just ask your special someone if they have heard something like you chewing rocks at night. They’ll know. There is a solution, however. Getting a custom “Night-guard” can actually help prevent you from wearing down, cracking, or breaking your teeth, as well as wrecking your TMJ.
Speaking of “special someones,” have you asked yours when the last time they went to the dentist was? I’m just saying I would…considering the fact that, the same bacteria that causes tooth decay, bad breath, and gingivitis are the bacteria that are transferred when smooching or sharing food or drink. Gross? I know, right?! So even if you take impeccable care of your oral hygiene, you could still wind up going to the dentist office and hearing you have a cavity. Don’t start pouring Purell© in their mouth before a good night kiss though, have them visit the dentist. (Some dental facts are gross…we just have to move on.)
It is commonly believed, and studies have shown, that when you take proper care of your oral hygiene, both at home and with regular dental visits, you can actually prolong your life by several years. Proper home care would of course include brushing at least twice a day, for at least two minutes a day, as well as flossing daily. I’ve seen (and admit to doing it myself in the past,) people brush vigorously for about 30 seconds, rinse and call it “a job well done”. This is not the way to do it. It takes about 30 seconds on each part of the mouth (upper left, lower left, upper right etc.) to consider yourself doing much good for your teeth and gums. Also, vigorous brushing can actually wear away tooth enamel and gum tissue. Most dentists recommend a soft bristled brush for this very reason. Think of it this way, you know the tortoise and the hare story? Well, lean more towards the tortoise’s approach and you won’t have such a hare-y situation inside your mouth.
These are just a few dental facts for your education and enjoyment. If you liked them, feel free to comment. I’ll do more in the future!
Stay healthy my friends.
