25 Bizarre Facts About Teeth That Are Actually True

Posted by , Updated on March 25, 2024

Our teeth are with us for our entire lives … well, depending on your hygiene. However, we often don’t pay them much attention unless we’re cleaning them or if there’s something wrong with them.

Today we’ll take a look at some of the lesser-known facts about teeth. These are 25 Bizarre Facts About Teeth That Are Actually True.

Video
play-rounded-fill

25

Your Dominant Hand is Also Your Dominant Chewing Side

40791409322_669c4cf409_b

Typically, if you’re right-handed, you’ll tend to chew on your right side. If you are left-handed, your dominant chewing side will likely be on the left.

24

Teeth Are Stronger Than Bones

189012135_9f22424f9c

Some people believe that bones are the strongest part of the human anatomy, but the tooth enamel on the exterior of teeth is actually the strongest and most durable part of the body.

23

Most of the Tooth Isn’t Visible

874068212_358093ffd1_b

Two-thirds of the tooth is actually underneath the gums. Only one-third of the tooth is visible.

22

"Just Brushing" Misses 40% of Your Teeth

48636954396_b319b479a7_b

Brushing your teeth only cleans 60% of your teeth. The other 40% is covered by flossing your teeth. Yes, it is important to floss.

21

Roman Toothpaste

3204171428_f3c5b45827_b

Before toothpaste was invented, Romans used to make a paste out of broken eggshells, bones, ox hooves, and ashes.

Sounds safe.

20

Teeth Start Forming in the Womb

14429726350_72d7af3f1a_b

Yep. Even though they don’t show up until later, your teeth are there from the time you are born. They are waiting, in the gums, for their time to shine.

19

Teeth Are Like Fingerprints

shutterstock_52750942

No two teeth are alike. Everyone’s teeth are unique to the individual, just like fingerprints.

In fact, just as with fingerprints, teeth can be used to identify a person. It’s one of the reasons people use dental records to identify human remains.

18

Cheese Protects Teeth

46845916392_6d0e7caa2d_b

Cheese provides a protective layer, which neutralizes the acid in plaque. 

I wonder if it would work to ditch the toothpaste and just throw some cheese whiz on that toothbrush.

17

Twigs for a Toothbrush

6951638977_07b5b65365_b

That’s right, before the wonder of modern hygiene, people would clean their teeth with twigs. Hopefully, the twigs were clean.

16

Roman Mouthrinse

2044043345_6c3246a1ef

Hey, let’s go back to Rome. 

People used to use sterile urine as a mouth rinse in Roman times. Ah, Rome. So clean.

15

Greens Prevent Staining

3510522182_df20a320c9_b

Apparently, eating a leafy salad or steamed vegetables before eating a full meal can prevent staining on your teeth. Or maybe this is just what parents say to get their kids to eat those veggies.

14

Toothache Remedy of the Middle Ages

7582799926_152148455a_b

During the Middle Ages, people would kiss donkeys to relieve toothaches. “Experts” believed that this was a sure-fire way to stop toothaches.

13

Before the Tooth Fairy

6817308570_a4158e1493_b

Before the Tooth Fairy gave money to children for their teeth, children in England and Australia would drop their baby teeth into a mouse hole in the hopes that it would prevent toothaches.

12

Aggravated Tooth Assault

537866321_04f7ee8fc2_b

When you bite someone with your natural teeth, it’s considered a simple assault in Louisiana. However, if you bite them with false teeth, it’s actually considered aggravated assault.

11

George Washington’s Teeth Weren’t Wooden

3986714573_f3657103b3_b

While it’s a popular myth that the president of the U.S. had wooden teeth, it holds no truth. 

Washington’s teeth were actually made of gold, ivory, lead, and a mixture of human, donkey, and hippopotamus teeth.

10

Romans Placed Caps on Teeth

5867734972_358797abfe_b

Okay, I’ve ragged on the Romans a few times throughout this list, but let’s look at some good Roman dental practices. 

The Romans used impressive dental technology for their time. They fixed cavity-ridden teeth with gold crowns.

9

Plaque Contains 300 Species of Bacteria

2679758872_9ebc5f5974_b

It’s true. Plaque contains, on average, 300 species of bacteria. So, you know, brush those teeth, people.

8

Soda Accelerates Tooth Decay

819828033_273f0c7f94_b

Drinking three or more glasses of soda a day contributes to 62% more tooth decay, fillings, and tooth loss. Drink water instead.

7

78% of Young People Have Cavities

2046367534_9546ebb47e_z

By the age of 17, 78% of Americans have had at least one cavity. Floss those teeth, people!

6

Giraffes Don’t Have Upper Teeth

2547602092_505b70729e_b

Like us, giraffes have 32 teeth. Unlike us, their teeth are all on the bottom of their jaws.

5

We Spend 38.5 Days Brushing Teeth in a Lifetime

4331377928_4e45e746ec_b

Over the course of our lifetime, we spend an average of 38.5 days brushing our teeth. It sounds like a lot of time when it’s put that way.

4

The Average Person Brushes for 45 Seconds a Day

3263983995_ac9a68a9b7_b

On average, we only brush our teeth for 45 to 70 seconds a day. However, it’s recommended that you brush your teeth for two to three minutes a day.

3

1800s Dentists

8335100090_6bab033b23_b

Back in the 1800s, barbers and blacksmiths also acted as dentists. In fact, because barbers would pull teeth, they were called “barber-surgeons.”

2

Protection From Vomit

8317014004_b8cc28285d_b

Before we vomit, our mouth produces an excessive amount of saliva to protect our teeth from the acid that our vomit has. 

You should still brush your teeth afterward, though.

1

Saving a Knocked-Out Tooth

2349042376_60db421532

If one of your teeth are knocked out, you can save the tooth if you jam it back in your gum within five minutes of it falling out.



Photo: 1.

tooth rings"tooth rings" by lllldddddrrrrr is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

, 2.

x-ray"x-ray" by jasonwoodhead23 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

, 3.

A trip to the dentist"A trip to the dentist" by uspn is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

, 4.

Toothbrushs generation"Toothbrushs generation" by HatM is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

, 5.

IMG_2200"IMG_2200" by Warl0rdPT is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

, 6.

sassin."sassin." by ToranasaurusRex is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

, 7.

Oh Cavity is Working Against Me"Oh Cavity is Working Against Me" by CJ Sorg is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

, 8.

Soda Haul"Soda Haul" by Musebrarian is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

, 9.

Bacteria sample inside petri dish for biotechnology study"Bacteria sample inside petri dish for biotechnology study" by IRRI Images is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

, 10.

All Teeth"All Teeth" by Richard Hayley is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

, 11.

George Washington's lower denture"George Washington's lower denture" by National Museum of Dentistry is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

, 12.

chomp chomp"chomp chomp" by ceci un matt is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

, 13.

Baby Teeth"Baby Teeth" by Clover_1 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

, 14.

This Donkey Knows What's Up."This Donkey Knows What's Up." by re-l124c41+ is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

, 15.

3 Bowls of Freshly Harvested Chard"3 Bowls of Freshly Harvested Chard" by ◢nelag◣ is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

, 16.

Bubbly!"Bubbly!" by madcowIV is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

, 17.

twig"twig" by harisudha.g is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

, 18.

SA Cheese Platter"SA Cheese Platter" by MBC Foods is licensed under CC BY 2.0

, 19.

Wisdom tooth problem"Wisdom tooth problem" by Dr Parveen Chopra is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

, 20.

032/365 Project"032/365 Project" by K Tao is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

, 21.

Mmmm, Minty"Mmmm, Minty" by Tim Ellis is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

, 22.

Dental floss"Dental floss" by danielfoster437 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

, 23.

my teeth"my teeth" by xupower is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

, 24.

a closeup"a closeup" by antonde is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

, 25.

Cookie Has Been Bitten"Cookie Has Been Bitten" by andymudrak is licensed under CC BY 2.0