You use your teeth each and every day, but there’s a lot you don’t know about your pearly whites! At Kruckman Family Dentistry, we believe in keeping all of our patients informed on the best ways to care for their teeth. Come and see us today to learn more about general care and cleaning tips that will help improve your oral health. In the meantime, we hope that you read on to learn some of the fascinating facts and history behind your teeth!
Dental care has been around for centuries.
Believe it or not, the first toothbrushes were twigs, and the frayed ends were used to clean teeth. About 5000 B.C., the Egyptians used ground animal hooves and crushed eggshells to keep their teeth clean and polished. Once the 1700s rolled around, a Chinese design became more widespread that was made with a bone handle and boar bristles that were secured with wire. The toothbrush with nylon bristles that we have all come to know and love arrived in the late 1930s, and electric toothbrushes were introduced to the public in 1954!
Your teeth can reveal stories about you.
Scientists can use teeth found in order to determine a person’s age, what they ate and drank, and possibly even where they may have lived. Our teeth also reveal truths about our overall health, including periods of intense stress or poor health that we have endured. Since our teeth respond so much to our lives, they can be a record of sorts of our time on earth.
Each tooth is unique!
Everyone has teeth that mirrors one on the other side, and everyone has the same type of teeth, but that doesn’t make them all the same! In fact, regardless of whether we are talking about the 20 baby teeth we have as children or the 32 permanent teeth we get as adults, no two teeth are identical in shape and size. Each tooth has its own characteristics, so your smile really does make you unique!
Your teeth’s blueprints are there from the moment you are born.
When babies are born, all the crowns of their initial 20 teeth are already in place underneath the gums. However, they will not break through until they reach sometime between three months old and six months old. As they grow, the crowns and roots of their adult teeth begin forming underneath the baby teeth. Soon, they will begin to push the baby teeth out of the way and make room for their adult set.
Bonus fact: The average amount of money received from the tooth fairy back in 1950 was 25 cents. Today, the average child receives about $2.00 per tooth!
Cleaning in between your teeth is just as important as cleaning the surfaces we can see.
Of course, brushing allows us to easily access both the tops and sides of our teeth. However, the surfaces we cannot see are just as important as the rest of the surfaces! These parts make up an important part of our enamel, and they need to be cleaned thoroughly as well. This is why we recommend flossing each day to remove any bacteria or food bits that may be trapped, which will encourage healthy gums.
Contact Kruckman Family Dentistry
When it comes to encouraging a healthy smile, seeing your dentist regularly is one of the best ways to do it! From cosmetic dentistry procedures to dental surgery to just general cleaning, we are the team to call. Contact Waconia’s preferred dentist professionals at Kruckman Family Dentistry to set up your appointment, as well as an appointment for your kids! We look forward to helping you improve your smile.