smiling coupleWe use our teeth every single day. Without our teeth, we couldn’t chew our food, pronounce words properly or feel confident smiling in a picture. We only get one set of permanent teeth for a lifetime. It makes sense that we should know our teeth intimately, but how much do you really know about your pearly whites.

Beyond brushing and flossing and routine dental visits, there are some other ways that you can get to know your teeth. In fact, there are some fun facts about teeth that may surprise you – and impress you! At Dream Dentist, we love our job of taking care of teeth at all stages of life. We realize the importance of strong and healthy teeth, and we never dismiss what goes into creating and protecting your smile.

Fun Facts About Teeth

Go ahead and impress your family and friends with the following fun facts about teeth:

  • Teeth are the hardest part of the human body.
  • The enamel on teeth is the hardest substance in the human body and is even stronger than bone.
  • Sharks can have up to 50,000 teeth over the course of their lifetime.
  • Humans have two sets of teeth in their lifetime – baby teeth and adult teeth.
  • Tooth enamel is semi-transparent, which gives teeth their characteristic color.
  • Tooth decay is the most common disease in the world, affecting nearly every person at some point in their life.
  • Teeth are unique to each individual, and can be used for identification purposes, much like fingerprints.
  • Giraffes only have bottom teeth, and they use their long tongues and lips to grab and strip leaves from trees.
  • Snails have thousands of tiny teeth on their tongue-like structure called a radula.
  • The average person spends about 38.5 days brushing their teeth over the course of their lifetime.

Sad Statistics About Dental Health

Teeth are undoubtedly a valued and impressive part of the body. However, even as the strongest material in your body, they can still get damaged or diseased. To further your understanding of teeth, here are some more surprising yet unfortunate statistics about dental health:

  • According to the World Health Organization, 60-90% of school children worldwide have cavities.
  • Nearly one in four adults aged 20-64 have untreated cavities in the United States.
  • The CDC reports that more than 1 in 4 adults in the United States have untreated tooth decay.
  • Gum disease affects nearly half of all adults over the age of 30 in the United States.
  • According to the American Dental Association, only 63% of adults visited a dentist in the past year.
  • In 2017, emergency room visits for dental conditions in the United States totaled over 2 million.
  • Approximately 10% of the global population suffers from severe periodontal (gum) disease, which can lead to tooth loss and other serious health complications.
  • Poor oral health has been linked to a range of systemic health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
  • In 2019, the global dental market was valued at over $31 billion, reflecting the importance of dental health around the world.
  • The dental industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% from 2020 to 2027.

At Dream Dentist, we understand the importance of tooth care, which can include routine dental cleanings for prevention as well as emergency dental treatments when unexpected mouth trauma occurs. As your trusted dentist in O’Fallon, we are here for it all. We love getting to know your smile, as well as the patient behind that smile!