Despite the fact that we use our teeth many times a day, we hardly think about them, apart from the already mechanical ritual of brushing our teeth and, at best, using dental floss. Hopefully this changes after reading this article. As we said, George Washington never actually had wooden teeth.
However, he was the owner of a rather terrifying range of dentures made from various metals, human and animal teeth, and therefore can truly be considered a warning to anyone who does not care about theirs. "chewing instruments". So grab your brush (and floss as well) and join us in exploring the amazing world of teeth. Also check out the article 10 Best Ways to Get Rid of Dental Problems.
10. Teeth adorned with precious stones
The Maya were an advanced civilization that is now, unfortunately, mostly renowned for its ill-fated doomsday prediction. Already 2.5 thousand years ago, the Maya Indians had very progressive ideas about teeth. While many people today try to whiten their teeth, this was not enough for the Maya. They went to dentists to decorate their teeth using a primitive drill.
Sometimes pieces of teeth were cut off or they were given a bizarre shape. However, by far the most extreme was the jewelery of the teeth!
Some people, especially men, made small holes in their teeth and filled them with precious stones. In their opinion, their mouths thus seemed much more attractive! Researchers believe that these findings suggest that the Maya were skilled in dentistry, since they could introduce such jewelry without breaking a tooth.
9. Mouse Perez
In many parts of the world there is a belief that when a child loses a tooth, the Tooth Fairy comes to him at night to take this tooth and leave coins in return. However, there is a different tradition in Spanish speaking countries.
It all started in 1894 when the king's little son lost his first tooth. The king, to celebrate this outstanding event, hired a priest to write a story for the boy. This priest created a character - the mouse Perez, which began to enjoy great success and is still loved by all Spanish kids.
Curiously, while all countries use the same mouse, Perez's methods can vary greatly. For example, children in Argentina do not place their teeth under a pillow, but in a glass of water. Apparently, the little rodent is thirsty and caring children leave him to drink. Also in some countries this character is known as “magic mouse"Instead of the usual"Perez».
8. Outdoor dentistry
In those days, when the modern science of dentistry did not yet exist, people still had problems with their teeth, but there was nothing even close to a real dentist around. At the beginning of the 19th century, there was not even a special profession of a dentist, let alone licensing this type of activity. That is why many people went to the dentist only for acute toothache, and most often the result was its removal.
Since dentists did not exist yet, the work was done by people who had the right tools. As a rule, these were blacksmiths and hairdressers. Naturally, time passed and the real profession of a dentist appeared. The specialists very soon became angry with the hairdressers and others who continued to practice without any training, and therefore licensing appeared, which did not allow from now on to go to the village blacksmith and “to snatch»Your tooth.
7. Synthetically grown teeth
Chinese researchers tried to grow synthetic teeth using stem cells, but since stem cells are difficult to acquire, they came up with a (disgusting) solution: to isolate them from human urine.
Since it is illegal to conduct such experiments on humans, they tried to grow a tooth in the mouth of a mouse. As a result, soft formations were observed, as well as enamel initiation, but some scientists are skeptical. Surely this method seems like a big step in the study of artificially creating fully functional teeth, but there are still a number of problems.
For starters, urine is not the best source of stem cell extraction, which can lead to high levels of contamination and infection. Plus, growing a tooth is just the beginning. Once scientists come to this, they have to solve another important task: to force the mouth completely "to accept»New grown tooth.
6. Remedies for toothache
Toothache is a disgusting sensation that can hardly be tolerated. Sometimes the pain becomes so unbearable that we are ready to do anything just to stop it. It was also with our ancestors, however, they did not have the knowledge in the field of dentistry that we have today. So, as you might have guessed, their pain management tools were quite ingenious. Moreover, most of them had an effect no greater than a placebo.
Some believed that toothache was caused by small worms entering the teeth, and that they could be removed from there using sophisticated methods using seeds and wax. Another way involved uttering a few magic words, and then exchanging saliva with a frog - something more disgusting is difficult to imagine! One medical practitioner in the old days suggested cutting the entire area of pain with a nail, and then, when everything was covered in blood, hammer that nail into a piece of wood. He insisted it would work and “cured»The tooth will never bother you again.
5. A toothbrush inlaid with bacteria
You've probably heard the story of toothbrushes and toilets. The theory is that even if you are a few steps away from the toilet, the brush will be contaminated with fecal germs after each flushing of the toilet. Sounds pretty intimidating and many people now try to close the toilet lid before each flush.
The problem is that this approach diverts attention away from the real cause of excitement - the brush itself. Studies have shown that the toilet is one of the cleanest places in the house, but the toothbrush, which constantly brushes germs from the teeth, ends up being covered with them. The owners of a good immune system are not in danger, but a long distance from the toilet bowl to the brush is absolutely ineffective. What bacteria really need to spread and develop is moisture.
So if you really want to avoid contaminating your brush, the best way to achieve this is to keep it dry.
4. Day of love for teeth
China is a fast-growing country with a huge population, making it extremely difficult to ensure that all 1.35 million people are healthy. While most people try to keep an eye on their overall body health, many postpone dental treatment because of the expense, fear of dentists, or the fact that dental problems become unbearable over a long period of time. Holes in teeth cause infections and can ultimately be deadly, so oral hygiene is not just a cosmetic issue.
To raise awareness about dentistry among citizens, the Chinese government has designated September 20 as Love for Your Teeth Day. On this day, dentists are running promotions to attract customers, and information is spreading everywhere to inspire people to see a doctor and prevent future dental problems. The campaign has been running for decades and has been successful "leads»Many people in the dentist's chair.
3. Mountain Dew and teeth in the Appalachian mountains
In the Appalachian region of the United States, many people are extremely poor and geographically isolated. Due to the price, taste, sugar, caffeine and possibly other factors, Mountain Dew can be called the official drink of the inhabitants of the region. It has become such an integral part of the culture that people of all ages drink it instead of water. This led to a serious dental crisis in the region: The constant use of the drink has done such damage to the teeth of the inhabitants of the Appalachians that a mouth full of spoiled teeth with a brown coating was named after it - this is what the teeth of Mountain Dew lovers look like.
Politicians have proposed a solution to the problem by banning the purchase of soda, which, however, is unlikely to be effective, because people addicted to Mountain Dew will find their way to the coveted drink anyway. Perhaps the people of the Appalachians also need "Love your teeth day».
2. The first toothbrushes and toothpaste
Although people have been trying to keep their teeth in good condition and clean for a long time, we haven't always had the fancy electrical gadgets at our disposal like we do today. Evidence has been found that as far back as ancient Egypt, people used primitive tools made from twigs to brush their teeth. Many countries still use twigs of trees that have antibacterial properties, such as cinnamon and neem, which have proven to be just as effective as modern brushes.
The device closest to the brush was first invented in China. The handle was made from bamboo and the cleaning fibers were from boar bristles.
As for toothpaste, it has come a long way to that fresh mint chemical substance that we generously apply to our pearly white teeth every morning. When toothpaste was first invented, the ingredients were really nasty - people usually used a mixture of ash, burnt eggshells, crushed bones, and other nasty things that you probably wouldn't want to bring to your mouth. And you still thought that brushing your teeth today is not a very pleasant procedure!
1. Proper oral hygiene
Many people assume that brushing their teeth after eating is the best way to go, as this is where the most plaque builds up. However, this is also the moment when our saliva is at its highest level of acidity, which, together with brushing our teeth, can lead to deterioration of the tooth enamel. One dentist suggested rinsing your mouth after eating to restore the pH balance, and then brushing your teeth only half an hour later. Also take a look at the article 7 Tips for Healthy Teeth.
Dentists also insist that no matter how thoroughly we brush our teeth, without dental floss we will not achieve the desired result. Unfortunately, many people ignore this advice, and floss is even more important than a toothbrush. It cleans food that is stuck between the teeth and is in no way accessible to the brush, which protects it much more effectively. So when dentists are asked if they really need to floss, most say, “Only if you want to keep your teeth».
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Interesting facts about teeth. Where do people prefer black teeth to a snow-white smile? Whose tooth is the most expensive and which braces to choose, see the video below.
