Your mouth isn't just full of teeth, it's full of surprises, too! You might be amazed by some of the crazy facts about your humble pearly whites.
Here are a few of our favourite teeth titbits.
Tooth enamel is harder than steel.
1. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body
Tooth enamel is harder than steel! This doesn't mean you can use your teeth as tools though – enamel is much more brittle than steel, and can chip or break if you don't take proper care of your mouth.
2. You will spend more than a month brushing your teeth in your whole lifetime
The average person spends around 38 days brushing their teeth. Of course, this is based on the assumption that you spend the recommended two minutes brushing your teeth morning and night – no cutting corners!
3. Your teeth are completely unique to you
Teeth are as individual as fingerprints – no one else in the world has a set of teeth quite like yours. Even in sets of identical twins, each individual has their own unique 'dental print'.
You should take pride in your teeth and make sure you take special care of them. However, if you aren't quite happy with your unique set of teeth, we might be able to help with cosmetic dentistry procedures such as veneers, crowns and professional teeth whitening treatments.
4. You are born with a complete set of teeth
Your milk teeth first start forming in the womb, even though they only make an appearance when you're six months to a year old. In fact, the cells that become teeth start growing only six weeks after conception! The tooth buds in the jaw continue to develop when a baby is born, until they finally emerge through the gum as baby teeth.
5. In the Middle Ages poor people sold their teeth as dentures
Centuries ago, poor people used to sell their teeth to the wealthy as dentures or tooth transplants. Luckily, dental technology has advanced since then, and the dental implants we use are now made out of titanium and porcelain.
For all your dental health needs, call in to see the tooth specialists. We'll be happy to take good care of your teeth – and maybe throw in a few more fun facts on your next visit!