4 Fun Facts About Our Teeth
1. Cavities - A cavity is one of the few things the body can’t heal. Cavities are permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny holes. Cavities are caused by a combination of factors, including bacteria in your mouth, frequent snacking, sipping sugary drinks and not cleaning your teeth well. Cavities are among the world's most common health problems. They are especially common in children, teenagers, and older adults. But anyone who has teeth can get cavities. If cavities are not treated, they get larger and affect deeper layers of your teeth. They can lead to a severe toothache, infection, and tooth loss. Regular dental visits and good brushing and flossing habits are your best protection against cavities.
2. Roots - The root is the part of the tooth that extends into the bone and holds the tooth in place. It makes up approximately two-thirds of the tooth. The number of roots for each type of tooth varies. Typically, incisors, canines, and premolars will have one root whereas molars will have two or three. The roots are covered with a thin layer of bone, and they are inserted into sockets in the bone of the jaw. The tooth root is essential for tooth function. It consists of root dentin and root canals, where dental pulp cells, including undifferentiated mesenchymal cells, blood vessels, and nerves that support the dental pulp tissue reside.
3. Fingerprints - Your teeth are like your fingerprints…no two teeth are the same shape and size. Each tooth in your mouth has its own unique profile, and teeth vary widely from person to person. Despite their unique properties, teeth can indicate certain information about us, like our age, gender, and personality. They can indicate certain personality traits and significantly impact our overall impression of people.
4. Supernumerary - Extra, or "supernumerary," teeth can show up in as much as 4 percent of the population. Supernumerary teeth are twice as common in men as they are in women. Supernumerary teeth tend to grow out of the upper jawbone. Theses teeth tend to grow downward, alongside a person's other upper teeth once their baby teeth fall out. But sometimes, the teeth form "upside down" and instead of growing down into the mouth, they grow upward, toward a person's nose. Even when extra teeth grow in the right direction, they can cause problems with the arrangement and growth of your regular teeth. They can knock teeth out of alignment, overcrowd the jaw, and even cause cysts.
Our teeth are one of the most essential features of our body. Not only do they help us chew our food, teeth are also responsible for helping us speak and pronounce words clearly and correctly. Aside from function, our teeth also create our one-of-a-kind smile, which makes us uniquely ourselves.
