Teeth seem so simple. They help us eat and give us a bright beautiful smile. There is so much more to these white chiclets, though, including some really interesting tooth facts! Animals have teeth, but are they the same? Are teeth bones? Why is flossing important? Where did flossing even come from? Let’s dive in and answer some of these intriguing questions.
How Many Teeth?
Do animals and humans have the same number of teeth? Nope! All humans don’t even have the same number of teeth. Let’s take a look.
- Kids have 20 teeth
- Cats have 30 teeth
- Adults have 32 teeth
- Giraffes also have 32 teeth, but all of theirs are in the back of their mouth.
- Dogs have 42 teeth
- Pigs have 44 teeth
- A giant armadillo can have 100 teeth!
- If you were ever wondering about how many teeth a shark has, ask Dr. Shir!
Are Teeth Bones?
The hardest substance in our body is actually the enamel on our teeth. Although teeth and bones are both white, store calcium, and are hard, they are not the same. Teeth are made of enamel which consists of calcium and can wear away. Bones are living tissue that constantly regenerates and keeps the bones strong and healthy.
Why is Flossing so Important?
Surprisingly, 40% of your tooth surface can only be cleaned by flossing. That’s almost HALF of your tooth surface! This is why Dr. Shir, your Frisco pediatric dentist, says it’s super important to brush and floss twice a day to ensure optimal oral health. Floss comes in lots of different flavors like mint, cinnamon, cotton candy, and bacon, plus many more. With such a variety of flavors, who wouldn’t want to floss?
Other Fun Facts About Teeth
During your lifetime, you will produce enough saliva to fill up two swimming pools. All the time spent brushing your teeth will equate to about 39 days of your life. Before floss was invented, people would use small twigs to clean their teeth. Staying hydrated is important for the production of saliva, so keep that water coming!
Sheer Smiles Kids Dentistry has created a fun and welcoming environment for kids of all ages to receive dental care to maintain a beautiful pediatric smile. Dr. Shir, a Frisco pediatric dentist, specializes in treating children with special needs so that they can also receive dental services. We invite you to our office so that you can see first-hand how happy your child is after receiving our Frisco dental care. As a leading Frisco pediatric dentist, Dr. Shir has lots of fun facts to share and would love to help your little ones love their teeth. Call to schedule an appointment for a cleaning at our Sheer Kids Smiles Dentistry Frisco office at (972) 232-2227.
