Our teeth play an essential role in our body, and that is to break down so we can swallow it for nourishment. But it doesn’t end there; our pearly whites do more for our body than munching and crunching. Find out more as we bring you a list of 5 facts that you probably didn’t know about your teeth:
Teeth and Stress
It is a known fact that stress dramatically affects our well-being, but did you know that it also harms your teeth? When humans are stressed, they grind their teeth when sleeping. It can cause painfully sore jaws that could eventually lead to cracking.
Now, this is something you can’t control so wearing a mouth guard before sleeping can help decrease the damage. But the leading solution is to reduce your stress levels to give your teeth, as well as the rest of your body, a break.
Your Teeth Are Special
Your pearly whites are unique. The appearance of bite marks all differs from person to person. Detectives even use them as significant evidence when available. The only time you’d share the same fingerprints, bite marks and tongue print with someone is when you have a twin.
Enamel is Crazy Strong
The outer coating of our teeth known as the enamel might arguably be the body’s most robust feature. Our teeth and bones are made of the same elements: phosphate and calcium, but the former undergoes a chemical process that makes it relatively stronger than the latter. Scientists are even trying to copy how our enamels react to excessive trauma and impact in making a strong and spacecraft.
Teeth Can Be Pricey
I’m sure you’re no stranger to hearing people pay large sums of money to have a famous person’s books, guitars, a shirt, a lock of hair and even teeth. John Lennon’s teeth were sold for $31,000 at a 2011 auction. Another noteworthy tooth auction was that of Sir Isaac Newton. His pearly white was sold for $35,700 in 1816.
Straight Isn’t Always The Answer
It is true that beauty is subjective. Take for example the differing views of people on what kind of teeth is aesthetically pleasing. A part of the world wants straight teeth, and people would pay thousands of dollars to have their teeth as straight and proportioned as it can be.
In countries like Japan, a pleasant smile means having crooked teeth, and people would undergo cosmetic procedures to remove any sign of a straight smile. Some ethnic tribes even administer methods to make teeth ‘pointy’ with no anesthetic at all. Everyone has the right to do whatever they want for their teeth, but what everyone should do is to observe proper dental hygiene by brushing and flossing every day.