The human body is highly complex with its many different components and ways of working. But let us talk about a very small part of your body- your teeth. Your teeth are a part of you that you may often forget. We go about daily life, eating, drinking, biting our nails and even using our teeth to open food packets. They may not cross your mind until you experience pain or it is time for that dental check-up. In today’s blog, we offer the most interesting facts about teeth.
The toughest part of your body
Teeth are small; they can wear down and break. This is why we may overlook that they are the toughest part of your body. Many may think that bones are the most durable, but you are more likely to break a bone than a tooth. It takes a lot of force or erosion to do so. This is because the enamel on your teeth acts as a tough layer of protection. 96 percent of the tooth’s surface- the enamel- is made of various minerals, making it highly durable. As you can imagine, it takes a long time and a lot of neglect for your enamel to be damaged. For the healthiest teeth, keep up with your oral hygiene routine daily.
Teeth cannot heal or repair themselves
Our body has impressive regeneration abilities, so we might expect that our teeth- being part of that, would do the same. Unfortunately, tooth damage is irreversible. You can prevent current damage from progressing and prevent future damage, but your teeth cannot heal nor repair. This is why it is ever so important to keep your teeth healthy with a well maintained oral hygiene routine, as well as regular dental check-ups.
We have at least 32 teeth as adults
When our permanent teeth come in, you will find that there will be at least 32 of them. However, some people may have 2 extra teeth that grow- these are known as wisdom teeth. Many people have their wisdom teeth removed due to not having enough space in their mouth to hold them. When these teeth try to come through, they may grow sideways and affect your other teeth’ alignment. Wisdom teeth can cause mouth aches when growing in.
Flossing
You might be forgetting to floss or simply not spending the time doing it. But did you know, when you don’t floss, you are missing a shocking 40 percent of your teeth’s surface from your oral hygiene routine? Stubborn plaque is more likely to build up around the base and between teeth. Your toothbrush may not always clean these areas thoroughly enough, and therefore flossing is a necessary habit to take up. The floss itself is very durable, so even people using braces can floss too. It is a great way to clean around your braces where you may not usually be able to get to with your usual cleaning routine.
Milk Teeth
A baby’s teeth- otherwise known as milk teeth, start to form before they are born. However, commonly they do not begin to come through until the baby is 6-12 months old. Children usually have their complete set of milk teeth by the age of 3. These teeth will begin to fall away between the ages of 5 and 6 for the adult teeth to form, and by teenage years, a complete set of adult teeth will have grown into place.
For the best advice on teeth of all shapes, sizes and conditions, or simply for your 6-month check-up, book your consultation today with us at oradent.org.
