Unique Dental Facts That Will Surprise You: Part 2

Welcome back! Here’s the second post in our series of fun facts about teeth and dentistry. Let us know which ones surprised you the most when you’re done reading…

Mouth And Saliva Facts

In a lifetime, the average person produces over 100,000 gallons of saliva.
One of the most common effects of poor dental hygiene is bad breath. Over 90% of bad breath originates in the mouth.
There are over 700 different types of bacteria in your mouth alone.
Right-handed people tend to chew food on the right side of their mouth, while left-handed people tend to chew their food on the left side of their mouth.
Like your tooth prints and fingerprints, your tongue is also unique. No two people share the same tongue print.
Chewing sugar-free gum can actually be good for your oral health. It helps to clean your mouth and fight off cavities.

Dental Behavior

Did you know that 25% of adults DO NOT brush twice a day? This increases their risk of developing tooth decay by 33%.
People who smoke are 2-7 times more likely to develop periodontal disease than non-smokers.
People who drink 3 or more cans of soda daily have 62% more tooth decay, fillings, and tooth loss than people that don’t.
Replacing or changing a toothbrush after illnesses helps prevent the potential for re-infection.

Miscellaneous Dental Facts

Your smile is a strong point of attraction. 61% of adults admit that they are initially attracted to a person because of their smile.
More people prefer blue toothpaste over red toothpaste. Given this info, the next fact should come as no surprise…
People prefer blue toothbrushes to red ones. The exact reason is unknown, but it could be because blue is often associated with cleanliness.
Did you know that sports-related injuries are a leading cause of chipped teeth, which is considered a dental emergency?
Fairy floss, also known as cotton candy, was co-invented by a dentist. Despite being mostly sugar, it’s not as damaging to teeth as you might think, as it dissolves quickly and doesn’t stick to teeth like other sweets.
The common cold can lead to dental problems. Infection in the sinuses, for instance, can cause toothache.
It takes 43 muscles to frown. It only takes 17 to smile.
Toothpicks are the object most often choked on by Americans.
Sports-related injuries account for approximately 5 million missing teeth per year.
Americans spend $100 billion a year on hair care products, and only $2 billion a year on dental care products.
60% of people don’t know that a sore jaw, when combined with chest pain, can signal a heart attack – especially in women.
Americans spent $25 billion on candy in 2010. That is more than the gross national products of Lithuania, Costa Rica, and Mozambique combined.
Dolphins use their teeth to grab only, not to chew, as dolphins’ jaws have no muscles.
Mosquitoes have 47 teeth.
In 1905, dental assistant Irene Newman was trained to clean teeth. She became the first dental hygienist.

What’s your takeaway from all of these dental-related facts? Have any others to share? Post in the comments below! And, as always, please don’t hesitate to contact us with any oral-health questions or concerns. Happy Brushing!