dentist office illustration

Weird Dental Facts

Exploring the Quirky and Curious World of Dentistry
dentist office illustration
Weird Look

We’ve collected the most bizarre, surprising, and downright strange stories from the world of dentistry. These weird dental facts will make you think twice the next time you pick up your toothbrush — and maybe even laugh a little.

👉 Most Viewed:

Do Real Vampire Teeth Cases Exist? Rare Fangs That Shock Dentists

From myths to modern dentistry — uncover the strange truth behind fang-like canines and the vampire legends they inspired.

Just click on the IMAGE to see more!

From the truth behind real vampire teeth to strange saliva tricks and ancient toothpaste trivia, these Weird Dental Facts uncover the curious side of oral health — with stories you won’t find in most textbooks.

Mouthwash or ‘Clap’trap?

Mouthwash or ‘Clap’trap?

Before it was sold over-the-counter for oral care, did you know that Listerine was initially invented in the 19th century as a surgical antiseptic, and later promoted as a floor cleaner and cure for gonorrhea? (The smell always did remind us a bit of Pine-Sol®. . . .)...

read more
Doc Holliday Wannabe?

Doc Holliday Wannabe?

Fans of Western novels are no strangers to the name Zane Grey. Before writing over 80 books, Pearl Zane Grey practiced dentistry in New York. Unfortunately, his love for dentistry decayed and he quickly abandoned the field once he became a published author. While...

read more
And You Thought The Cold Was Common!

And You Thought The Cold Was Common!

Not only is tooth decay the most common and widespread disease of humankind, it is possibly the oldest. Skulls of pre-historic humans have been examined and tooth decay has been found. The latest findings from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s...

read more
Getting the “Hang” of It

Getting the “Hang” of It

In the Dark Ages, superstitions held that a person could cure a toothache, or even re-grow a lost tooth, by obtaining a tooth from someone else. This tooth would preferably have come from a hanged criminal. In fact, it was believed by some that the mere possession of...

read more
What’s Up, Bud?

What’s Up, Bud?

Did you know that the human tongue has up to 10,000 taste buds? Apart from having the ability to discern the tastes of salt, sour, bitter, sweet, and savory, the tongue is also an indicator of general health — a mainstay of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Some general...

read more
Tooth Worms?

Tooth Worms?

The earliest record of tooth decay was described by the Sumerians as “tooth worms”.  In ancient Greece, toothaches were also believed to be caused by tiny worms burrowing into teeth. This misconception led to the practice of treating toothaches by applying a mixture...

read more

These weird dental facts are just the beginning. Keep checking back as we uncover even more strange, funny, and fascinating discoveries from the dental world.

Want to explore more about oral health from a trusted source? Visit the American Dental Association’s research section.