Teeth Facts
Teeth Facts
|
| Interesting Teeth Facts: |
|---|
| Baby teeth are also referred to as primary teeth, milk teeth, or the deciduous set. |
| Teeth present at birth are referred to as natal teeth. |
| Baby teeth are comprised of ten on the upper jaw (maxilla) and ten on the lower jaw (mandible). |
| Permanent teeth are comprised of 16 on the upper jaw and 16 on the lower jaw. |
| The enamel of teeth is the hardest mineralized substance in the body. Approximately 96% of the enamel is mineral. The rest is organic material and water. |
| Tooth enamel is semitranslucent, and varies in thickness. Material underneath the enamel, such as fillings or dentin can affect the tooth's appearance. |
| Tooth dentin is located between the enamel and the cementum. This is a porous, yellowish material and decays more quickly than enamel because it is softer. Dentin is made up of 10% water, 20% organic material, and 70% inorganic material. |
| Cementum is similar to bone and it covers the tooth's root. It is softer than both enamel and dentin and is yellow in color. It is made up of 45% inorganic material, 22% water, and 33% organic material. |
| Tooth pulp makes up the center of the tooth, made up of soft connective tissue containing nerves and blood vessels. The pulp is considered to be a tooth's nerve. |
| When not properly cared for teeth will decay. Plaque can develop, which is a biofilm, made up of bacteria on the teeth. It must be removed on a regular basis to avoid gingivitis. |
| Cavities occur when bacteria are able to grow in a low pH environment, which occurs when fermentable carbohydrates such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose enter the mouth on a regular basis. |
| In order to keep teeth clean people must floss and brush regularly and visit their dentist for proper cleaning. Once teeth are damaged, dentists can repair and replace them but it is very expensive. |
| Teeth and mouth health is very important to a person's overall health. Poor oral hygiene can make a person susceptible to serious health risks such as stroke. |
| In skulls of prehistoric humans there has been evidence of tooth decay found. |
| In ancient cultures people cleaned their teeth by chewing on roots and twigs. |
| Teeth can't repair themselves, unlike bone or skin. |
| 50% of North Americans were toothless only 100 years ago. This has decreased to less than 10% today because of proper oral hygiene. |
| Because there are stem cells in teeth, it may be possible in the future to regrow teeth. |
|
Related Links: Facts Human Body Facts Animals Facts Human Body Human Body Diagram Human Body Vocabulary Games |