Did You Know?…
- The first toothbrushes were made of “twigs“. Yes, toothbrushes as we know them today are fairly new. In fact, the very first “toothbrushes” were simple sticks! People would chew on the ends of twigs to create soft bristles that cleaned their teeth. By the 1400s, the first bristle toothbrush was invented in China, made with boar hair attached to bamboo or bone handles. It wasn’t until the 1930s that nylon bristles replaced animal hair, paving the way for the modern toothbrush.
3. Flossing once a day can increase your lifespan by up to 6 years, according to some studies.
4. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body – even stronger than bone!
5. Your teeth are as unique as your fingerprints – no two sets are the same.
6. George Washington never had wooden teeth – his dentures were made from ivory, gold, lead, and even animal teeth.
7. Smiling is contagious – it activates “mirror neurons” in the brain, encouraging others to smile back.
8. Your mouth produces about a quart of saliva daily – enough to fill two bathtubs a year.
9. Smiles use between 5 and 53 muscles – depending on whether it’s a small grin or a big laugh!
10. Some toothpastes once contained crushed oyster shells and charcoal (thankfully, not anymore).
11. Giraffes only have bottom teeth in the front – they use their long tongues to grab leaves.
12. Sharks grow a new set of teeth every two weeks – up to 30,000 in their lifetime!