Here are some trivia for your weekend!

Did you know that. . .

• George Washington had several dentures made of hippopotamus, cow, walrus teeth and elephant’s tusks!
• A $250,000 mechanical mouth developed by dental researchers can duplicate a year’s worth of chewing in 24 hours and take four bites per second!
• Tooth decay remains the most prevalent disease in the United States – the cold is the first.
• Athletic mouth guards have been credited with preventing many sports injuries each year. The total number of orthodontic patients has doubled since the 1970s.
• Cheese is good for your teeth! Certain cheeses, including aged cheddar, Swiss and Monterey Jack, have been found to prevent tooth decay.
• In the past, dentures were common wedding gifts in the British Isles because many people expected to eventually lose all their teeth and hurried the process along by having them extracted at an early age.
• Chinese medical books have indicated potential value in the prevention and treatment of tooth decay and gum disease with herbs – about 60 of them. These herbs may be added to toothpaste and mouthwashes in this country in the future.
• American’s best-known author of western novels, Zane Gray, was a dentist before becoming a writer.
• As crazy as it may be, there is a name for the soreness that results when you burn your mouth on melted mozzarella- it’s called “pizza palate”.
• Americans spent $322 billion on health care in 1982, and of that amount, dental care expenditures totaled $19.5 billion- only 6 percent of the nation’s total health care bill.

If you are looking for a family dentist, consider coming to our dental office, Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. You can even make an appointment online.

• Grapefruits aren’t just for breakfast anymore. According to researchers at Pace University, grapefruit extract in toothpaste can kill oral viruses.
• More Americans go to a female dentist, according to a recent survey by the American Dental Association. The survey reports that the largest percent of practicing dentists were in the 35 to 45 year old group. This survey clearly shows the rapid inclusion of female professionals as dentists over the past 15 years.
• Are you a wine drinker? According to a study at Guy’s Hospital in London, the acid in wine was shown to erode the enamel on teeth. A wine taster had been exposed to so much wine that only the fillings were protruding in some of the subject’s teeth. Any individual who tastes or drinks wine often should clean his or her mouth at least twice a day. Teeth whitening has become popular due to stains, like wine, that can be very resistant.
• Routine dental radiographs may be an effective tool in preventing strokes! Unfortunately, stroke victims usually receive no warning of the impending stroke, but dental radiographs can help spot potentially dangerous calcium buildups in the carotid arteries near both ends of the jawbone. These buildups can choke blood flow to the brain and are a cause of strokes!
• Music soothes the soul…and this goes for dental patients too. The American Dental Association recommends that patients listen to music in the dentist’s office as a form of distraction. A combination of music and an anesthetic during dental procedures can reduce the patient’s blood pressure and pulse rate more than an anesthetic alone. It has also been noted that patients who listen to music at the dentist office tend to have lower levels of stress. Many family dental offices are aware of this and have included this into their dental office environment — such as our office, Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa.
• An athlete is 60 times more likely to incur damage to the teeth when not wearing a mouth guard. It is estimated that mouth guards professionally designed by dentists prevent approximately 200,000 injuries

If you are seeking a new family dental practice, consider visiting our office. We have a relaxing environment for general dentistry and also offer cosmetic dentistry too.

Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa is a Minnetonka cosmetic dentistry. We offer all types of cosmetic dental treatments such as professional teeth whitening. However, you may want to know some ideas on keeping them white.

Aside from brushing your teeth and avoiding foods and beverages known to stain such as coffee and red wine, here are strange but true trivia on dental care that you may not have thought of.

Use a straw: If you must have teeth stain-causing drinks like tea, cola or something else, be sure to use a straw. It helps the drink bypass the teeth and gums and cuts down on your chances for dingy teeth.

Avoid swimming often. You wouldn’t think of this but swim at your own risk: swimming regularly in pool water can cause stains. Funny to think this but the chemicals used to clean pools can lead to a condition known as swimmers’ calculus that leaves brown stains on teeth. You will need to see a family dentist to remove it.

Chewing on fingernails. Habitual nail chewers damage more than their cuticles; they can damage their teeth, too. If you have weakened enamel, you end up with an exposed, dented, soft area in the center of the tooth. As weird as it seems, the denting is much softer than the enamel and if exposed to bad habits such as chewing nails, using your teeth as a tool to open things, it will wear down. Brittle enamel is very prone to chipping resulting in making the teeth look very unattractive.

Of course, if you hare struggling with yellow teeth and want to show-off a beautiful smile at holiday parties, why not visit Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. We have a Smilespa that will make your teeth twinkle like the lights on a Christmas tree!

Afterall, don’t we all notice how wonderful it feels after having our teeth brushed or professionally cleaned? Who hasn’t rubbed their tongue over their smooth, clean teeth?

Here are interesting tidbits about toothbrushes and toothpaste:
• The Chinese invented the first natural bristle brush from bristles from the neck of pigs!
• French dentists were the first Europeans to stress the importance of using toothbrushes in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.
• United States’ business owners began to mass-produce toothbrushes in the 1880s. Surprising though, most Americans did not brush their teeth until military soldiers brought their habits of toothbrushing back home after World War II.
• Most people thought that tooth loss was a result of aging. Mississippi physician Charles Bass stressed that anyone, even the elderly, could keep their teeth by taking care or brushing them at and above the gumlines. Dr. Bass’ method of oral hygiene was not well received by the dental profession. His technique of brushing with a few changes is still taught by dental schools today.
• Toothpaste was used as long ago as 500 BC in the orient. The modern-day toothpaste wwas developed in the 1800s. Soap and chalk were used in toothpaste.
• In 1873, Colgate produced in large quantities the first toothpaste in a jar.
• It wasn’t until 1892, that toothpaste was manufactured in a collapsible tube.
• Advancements in synthetic detergents after WWII which allowed for the replacement of soap used in toothpaste with agents such as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Sodium Ricinoleate. A few years later, fluoride was added to toothpaste.

So, next time you brush your teeth, think about how you are continuing this ancient habit. Visit your family dentist and take care of your teeth by brushing and flossing regularly. Our dental office offers a comfortable and fun environment for our patients . . . just like these trivia questions!

• We start growing our teeth while still in our mother’s womb. Some babies are born with one or more teeth already erupted.
• The hardest substance in the human body is the enamel that coats the teeth.
• The rarest form of cancer in humans is tooth cancer.
• The most common health problem in humans is the common cold – tooth decay comes in a close second.
• False teeth used to be made from either animal bone, ivory, or wood.
• Crowns have been used for centuries although for many it was more a decoration and show of wealth than need.
• The dental drill is one of the most loathed sounds to the human ear.
• Butchers were the first dentists (and surgeons).
• Oral cancer is easy to treat when detected early, yet it’s one of the major causes of death in today’s society.
• Humans are one of the few animals that doesn’t continually grow new teeth.
• Poor dental hygiene causes more general health problems than smoking or drinking alcohol.
• Heart disease in those over 50 can often be traced back to gum disease and poor oral hygiene.

The old-fashioned dental drills were horrid, even to the ears of a dentist. In fact, many dentists now suffer hearing loss because of those old drills. Visit a dentist now and the drill is very quiet in comparison – yet we still hate the dentist drill. While those facts could be considered trivia, read them again and there’s some sobering thoughts behind them.

• By not flossing, you are missing out on cleaning 35% of your tooth surfaces.
• Teeth are the hardest substance in the human body.
• The electric toothbrush is not new, it first appeared in 1939.
• You can trust a dentist – they are amongst the 5 most trusted professionals in the U.S.
• The majority of systemic diseases in humans have oral manifestations.
• The 2nd most common disease in the U.S. after the common cold is tooth decay.
• Children have 20 teeth while adults have 32.
• Both black and green tea have antibacterial powers that help prevent cavities and gum disease.
• It is illegal for women to wear false teeth without the written permission of their husband in Vermont.
• 1950s heart throb James Dean wore a bridge to replace his missing front teeth.
• Tooth remedies from ancient times: boil earthworms in oil and use the oil to put drops in your ear – apparently, it cured toothache. To make loose teeth firm, tie a frog to your jaw.
• On September 20, China celebrates “Love your Teeth Day” – a national holiday promoting oral awareness.
• Paul Revere is the first person known to use dental forensics. He identified the body of a colonial colonel by the bridge appliance he wore.
• George Washington had several sets of dentures that were made out of ivory instead of the traditional wood.

Here’s one that isn’t trivia – if you want information relating to dental procedures, then talk to your dentist – they are at the front line of dentistry. Not only can they be trusted, they are your best friend when it comes to having perfect teeth and a great smile.

Take a simple x-ray. Instead of printing the image to film, the x-ray machine now sends the image straight to a computer hard drive where special software can help a dentist interpret what they see. The dentist can zoom in for a close up or move the image around for a better view.

Computers are now used in a wide range of dental procedures. You can even have your teeth digitally reproduced. You can then sit down with your dentist to work out the best plan for restoring your teeth. The wonder of this technology is that you can see how the changes may affect your teeth, and your smile, right there on the screen. This means you can now make decisions on your dental treatment based on a more educated basis, rather than on hope.

You may feel that computers have made a dentist’s role easier, and in some respects it has. However, it has also meant that dentists now require a higher level of training to give them the skills to make the best use of this technology. The next time you visit a dentist, have a look around at the new modern gadgetry they have – you’ll be surprised.

• 100 years ago more than 50% of all Americans had NO teeth
• More than 50% of all children entering school have no dental problems. In the 1970’s, only 28% of children could make that claim.
• The hardest substance in the human body is the tooth
• It is possible to get tooth cancer – although it is the rarest form of cancer
• A recent survey showed that more than half of those surveyed would rather sit in a dentist’s chair than sit next to a cell phone user
• Tooth decay is the second most common health problem (the common cold is number one)
• 75% of systemic health problems can be traced to poor oral hygiene (now that is scary)
• If you are a female and live in Vermont, it is still illegal to wear dentures without the written consent of your husband (I wonder if that comes under dumb laws still on the books)
• False teeth can be dated back to 700th BC
• Cheese, particularly Aged Cheddar, Swiss and Monterey Jack help to protect your teeth
• Do you use dental floss? Over three million miles of it is purchased in North America each year.
• Babies start to grow their teeth at around six weeks – from conception
• It is not unusual for babies to be born with one or more teeth already erupted
• 95% of people who don’t brush twice a day will have dental caries at some stage in their life. This compares to less than 20% for those who do brush twice a day

That last piece of trivia is one that is well worth noting. If you match that with the fact that a majority of systemic illnesses are caused through poor dental hygiene then there is really only one conclusion that can be learned from this trivia – a good dental health routine can help to keep your teeth healthy and the longer you keep your teeth and mouth healthy, the longer it will help to keep you healthy. If you have any doubts about your teeth, see your dentist as soon as possible.

Are you one of those who have no clue about the types of teeth in your mouth? This post is just right for you. Let’s start with imagining your mouth has four parts: right upper jaw, left upper jaw, right lower jaw, and left lower jaw. The eight front teeth, two in each part of the mouth, form the incisors. These are the teeth you use to bite your food with. Incisors are also known as cutting teeth.

Right next to the incisors, in each part of the mouth, there is a tooth called the canine. This tooth is a little taller than the rest of the teeth. We have a total of four canines in our mouth. Canine teeth are conical in shape and very strong. If you have ever used your teeth to tear off something, you must have used one of these teeth.

Immediately after the canine lie two teeth, in each part of the mouth, which are used to help chew our food. These teeth are referred to as pre-molars. There are eight pre-molars in our mouth.

Right next to the pre-molars, you have molars. There are three molars in each part of the mouth, making a total of 12. The molars complete the chewing process before the food is swallowed and passed down into the body. They are the strongest of all teeth.

If there is something else your children have been asking you (on teeth, gums, and dental health, of course!), ask us!

• The enamel of the teeth is the hardest thing in the the human body.

• Somewhere between 900 BC and 300 BC, the people in the Mayan civilization accessorized their teeth with gems and other precious stones.
• The human teeth start developing much before birth.
• About 0.0005 percent of human beings are born with a tooth. That makes it one person in 2,000!
• A child loses her first tooth around the age of seven.
• The teeth in the upper set are used to bite into food while the teeth in the lower set help chew the food. The canine teeth in human beings exist for the purpose of tearing.
• Swimming can be a factor causing the erosion of the teeth enamel. It is the chlorine in the pool water that causes the problem. Swim with a mouth-guard to protect your teeth.
• Similar to a finger print, the tongue print is unique for each one of us.

Human beings get only two sets of teeth in a lifetime – the milk teeth and the permanent teeth. The permanent teeth should last as long as person lives. However, with poor standards of oral hygiene and negligence towards regular dental care, human beings start losing teeth early in life. Visit your dentist regularly to ensure that your teeth last a lifetime.

Happy smiling!