In the Know for You to Know

What makes teeth so exciting? After all they’re just teeth, right? Well, not so much.

There are lots of cool and surprising facts about how teeth function and develop that can make children excited to learn more. And we all know good things happen when children are excited to learn.

When children understand more about their teeth they become more confident and ready to show off their smile.

Here are some cool facts about teeth that you and your children might not know.

#1. YOUR TEETH ARE AS UNIQUE AS YOUR FINGERPRINT

Our fingerprints are entirely unique to us. The same is true about your teeth. No 2 people in the world have the same shape, size, and alignment, not even identical twins.

Your teeth are special to you. This is part of what makes your smile so unique and wonderful.

Your teeth are special and they are yours, so take good care of them.

#2. Tooth Enamel Is The Hardest Part Of Your Body

Yes it is. The enamel on your teeth is stronger than your muscles or bones.

Like your bones, tooth enamel is made up of calcium and phosphorous. But it also has specific proteins and a crystalline structure that makes it even stronger.

Enamel is the outer most layer of your teeth. Think of enamel like a shell that’s there to protect teeth from break down and decay.

This is why brushing and flossing are so important!

#3. TEETH START TO FORM EVEN BEFORE A CHILD IS BORN

Baby teeth start forming under the gums before you are born. That’s why most babies have their first tooth by 6 to 12 months old.

Isn’t it amazing how early children’s smiles start developing?

#4. 1/3 OF A TOOTH IS UNDERNEATH THE GUMS

Teeth are sort of like icebergs, the whole tooth isn’t visible to the eye. 1/3 of a tooth is hidden underneath your gums.

Which means it’s just as important to take care of your gums as the part of your teeth you can see.

#5. YOUR SALIVA CAN FILL 2 BATHTUBS

You produce about a quart of saliva a day. Over a year that’s enough saliva to fill 2 medium size bathtubs.

Saliva is extremely important. It helps protect teeth and gums, lubricates the mouth, helps digest our food, fights germs, and protects our teeth from bacteria.

#6. TEETH BY NUMBERS AND LETTERS

We have 2 chances to grow teeth. 1st are our baby teeth and 2nd come our adult teeth.

Children have 20 baby teeth. We count them by singing the ABC’s. Baby teeth start falling out around age 6 and are replaced by their adult teeth. We count them by singing our 1,2,3’s.

Since we don’t get a 3rd set of teeth, it’s important to take good care of the ones we have.

#7. ON AVERAGE YOU’LL SPEND 38 DAYS BRUSHING YOUR TEETH OVER YOUR LIFETIME

If you brush your teeth for 2 minutes 2X’s a day, you’ll spend more than 1 month of your life brushing.

It’s a small amount of time for something so important that keeps your smile healthy.

#8. THE 1 THING YOUR TEETH CAN’T DO

Unlike your skin or bones, teeth can’t heal or regenerate if they’re damaged. Tooth enamel isn’t a living tissue, so a tooth can’t regrow the lost enamel.

This is why it’s so important to protect your teeth from cavities and injuries.

#9. MORE PRESSURE DOESN’T MEAN MORE CLEAN

Be gentle when brushing your teeth. Vigorous scrubbing can actually wear down your enamel and damage your gums.

Use a soft bristle toothbrush in light, circular motions. You want to remove the soft plaque. Please don’t scrub your teeth.

#10. TYRANNOSAURUS TEETH

Tyrannosaurus Rex had some of the most fearsome teeth in history. A single T. Rex tooth could be up to 12 inches long. They were shaped like bananas and had serrated edges to help them eat through their prehistoric meals.

Can you imagine trying to brush a tooth that large?

The more we know about our teeth, the more we appreciate how much work they do for us every single day.

What fun and cool dental facts have you heard? Have you played dental trivial pursuit? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us on Facebook

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!