5 Facts About Our Teeth

Mums are usually the first person in the world to tell that to keep our teeth clean we need to brush at least twice a day, floss once a day and visit the dentist every six months.

But dentists are the best person to give you guidance on how you can maintain good oral health.

Here at Canada Bay Dental, a company of dentists in Sydney, we are bombarded by a lot of questions about oral hygiene and teeth from when is the best time for a child’s first dental checkup to teeth whitening. And so we’ve rounded up the top 5 facts that you may not know about teeth – and some things you could be doing that can damage them.

1. Dry mouth and tongue can cause tooth decay.

Our mouth produces over 25,000 quarts of saliva in a lifetime – that is enough to fill two swimming pools!

Saliva not only aids in chewing, swallowing and digesting food, they also help protect your teeth from bacteria resulting to gingivitis and dental caries. Saliva neutralizes the acid included in the food that you eat, helping the enamel absorb less acid.

The best way to avoid a dry mouth is to keep yourself hydrated. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day.

2. About 35% of the human population are born without wisdom teeth. If you are a part of that statistic, we are envious of you.

3. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body, but it can break easily.

We are all, at some point, guilty of using our teeth to remove price tags, open sachets of ketchup and even opening a soda or a beer bottle cap. These habits including eating popcorn kernels and playing with tube ice, or having mouth piercing can also damage teeth structure. Remember, once we have our permanent choppers they are unlikely to be replaced… not unless you want to rush to an emergency dentist.

4. Fluoride is good for your teeth… and bad for your teeth.

Fluoride is a common ingredient found in all toothpaste. It is important for healthy teeth, but excessive amounts of it when ingested, usually by kids during their teeth-growing years, it can lead to a condition known as fluorosis, which starts out causing white spots (or brown). Such tooth stains cannot simply polish off. And, excessive fluoride also causes teeth to become porous.

5. No two people have the same set of teeth — your teeth are as unique as your fingerprint. And if you happen to watch crime shows like CSI you would know.