Of course, you likely know the basics about your teeth. That’s only natural – you rely on your pearly whites to eat, speak, and more! Still, odds are you’d be surprised by some smile-related truths. Your chompers hide more secrets than you’d think. Luckily, it’s not all that hard to learn about these things. Your local Greenfield dentist will even share a few. So, read on to learn four fun facts about teeth you didn’t know.
You Have 32 Teeth in Total
In the years you’ve had them, have you ever counted all the teeth in your mouth? Most people don’t think to do so. After all, it can seem like a tedious task. However, this brief counting reveals varied tooth structures.
Generally, every person is born with thirty-two teeth – two rows of sixteen chompers each. That means you have eight front teeth or incisors. Similarly, your smile should contain four canines, eight premolars, and twelve molars.
Tooth Enamel Can’t Grow Back
As you know, most body parts can heal themselves pretty well. Even broken bones can grow back and fuse together. That said, your teeth are an exception. They can’t repair themselves over time.
The issue comes down to your smile’s makeup. Unlike the rest of your body, enamel isn’t made of blood vessels and nerves. The layer is composed of calcium and phosphorus. As such, it isn’t “living” tissue that cells can heal. You’ll need to look after your grin to ensure it keeps as much enamel as possible.
Teeth That Feel Cold Are “Alive”
While your enamel can’t grow back, healthy teeth are still living parts of you. Those working well are as “alive” as your skin, hair, etc. In fact, you’ll know a tooth is living if it can feel cold.
If you weren’t aware, teeth aren’t just made of enamel. Deep inside them are blood vessels and nerves that keep them functional. So, a tooth feeling cold means it has living tissue that senses the temperature.
Saliva is Your Smile’s Friend
Among most people, saliva is seen as something dirty. (That’s partly why spitting is viewed as an insult.) Even so, this liquid is quite helpful to your teeth. It works to keep your grin healthy and clean.
To be honest, saliva protects your oral health. It rinses your mouth of plaque, bacteria, and leftover food bits. By doing so, it reduces your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Those with dry mouth, though, lack saliva and are thus more likely to have bad breath, cavities, and worse.
At this point, you’ve hopefully learned fun facts about teeth you didn’t know. Keep them in mind as you care for your smile in the future!
About the Practice
Advanced Dental Treatment Center is based in Greenfield, WI. Led by Drs. Carini and Farr, our practice helps each of its patients achieve their dream smile. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency dental care. Our office is also a provider of dental sedation services and TMJ treatment options. For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (414)-209-7465.