By the age of 21 years, the average person would likely have a complete set of 32 adult teeth. From then on, your teeth would take on a trove of other fascinating functions beyond their role in chewing and biting. So, how well do you know your pearly whites? Test your knowledge and uncover some fun facts below.
1. More Than Half of Adults Are Attracted to Someone Because of Their Smile
When people meet you for the first time, what do you think is the first thing they notice? A survey by SWNS Digital among 2,000 Americans reveals that a smile accounted for 76% of first impressions. So maybe you’re looking to put your best foot forward on your first day of work. Or perhaps you’re trying to impress your future in-laws. Flash a grin to win them over!
2. Teeth Are the Hardest Substances in Your Body
You might think your skeletal structure is the hardest part of your body. But it’s your pearly whites that take home the toughest trophy award. Adult teeth are composed of over 96% of minerals, making them more impenetrable than your bones.
With dental enamel so hard, the high durability of adult teeth won’t come as a surprise. Research from the International Journal of Molecular Sciences reveals that teeth enamel can last a lifetime, even under extreme physical and chemical circumstances. If you’ve ever heard about the presence of teeth long after a person dies, now you know why.
3. You Can Bite up to 200 Pounds in Weight
Did you know adult teeth have a bite force almost as strong as a dog’s? Believe it or not, your chomping power is at par with a raging pit bull whose bite bears down at 230 pounds. Now you understand why you could bite open that beer bottle back in university (not that you should ever do that again).
4. No Two People Have the Same Set of Teeth
Just like your fingerprint, the structure and arrangement of your teeth are uniquely yours. From the moment a person is born, each tooth forms differently. Indeed, no two people – or sets of permanent teeth – are alike.
5. The Longest Human Tooth Measured 1.46 Inches Long
According to The Mirror, Guinness World Records awarded Mijo Vodopija from Croatia for having the longest tooth, measuring 1.46 inches long. His journey to this record began with a severe toothache, leading to a tooth extraction in Germany.
6. You Will Spend 82 Days Brushing Your Teeth
If you’ve ever wondered how much time you spend on your teeth, this fact is for you. Considering the UK life expectancy of 81.5 years, the Oral Health Foundation calculated an equivalent of 118,990 minutes of total toothbrushing time per person. Let this serve as a reminder to clean your teeth properly – brush and floss your teeth twice a day. After all, you may end up spending three months throughout your lifetime doing so. You might as well do it right.
7. Adult Teeth Continue to Shift Positions With Age
If you think your permanent teeth are well, permanent, this fact will blow your mind. According to the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics, teeth go through a physiologic drift – the natural migration of teeth with no applied force. As you age, your jawbone grows forward and becomes narrower. The change in your bottom teeth can affect your bite and sometimes require correction.
In such cases, you might need an orthodontic solution. Consider ClearCorrect dental aligners that can treat misalignments without the discomfort from wires and brackets. They deliver a more subtle and comfortable approach to treatment, and that’s a fun fact!
Just when you think you know everything about your fully developed adult teeth, nature hands you with facts that entertain and enlighten you. It’s fascinating how the human body functions – and your smile is no exception. So, keep feeding your mind with tidbits about your teeth so you can better care for them.
References:
Advantages of physiologic drift and extraction. (n.d.).
Beniash, E., Stifler, C. A., Sun, C., Jung, G. S., Qin, Z., Buehler, M. J., & Gilbert, B. (2019). The hidden structure of human enamel. Nature Communications, 10(1).
DigitalHubUSA, & DigitalHubUSA. (2022, January 13). First thing people spot when they open up a dating app profile is this. Digitalhub US.
Quinn, K. (2019, October 31). Man awarded Guinness World Record for having longest human tooth removed. The Mirror.
You spend more than 82 days brushing your teeth during your life – and more dental facts. (2018, April 12). Oral Health Foundation.
