Weird Dental Facts
Exploring the Quirky and Curious World of Dentistry
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.
Real vampire teeth aren’t just the stuff of myths — they’re a rare dental phenomenon with real-world causes. Uncover the condition behind fang-like canines and the vampire legends they may have inspired. It’s one of our most talked-about posts!
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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.
Escargot to the Dentist
A snail’s mouth is no larger than the head of a pin, but can contain over 25,000 teeth!
Is That Bacon, or . . . Badger I’m Tasting?
In China, in 1498, the first toothbrush with bristles was made, using hair from hogs, horses, and badgers. The first official commercial toothbrush was manufactured in 1938. Bonus fact: Even though the first nylon bristle toothbrush was manufactured in 1938, most...
Seems The Only Safe Place to Store It Is Your HEAD
In 1845 the American Society of Dental Surgeons banned the use of mercury fillings because of health concerns.* Do these health concerns persist today? Check out these videos: Video 1 -- Mercury FIllings Video 2 -- Neuron Degeneration (*) Source: Ring ME...
“Like Living in Tokyo. If You Call That Living”
There are more bacteria under your gums than there are people on the planet!
All I Want For Christmas is My SIX Front Teeth
Cows do not have upper front teeth and their lower bottom incisors never stop growing. Cows don't have teeth on the top in the front of their mouths, but they do have molars on the top for grinding. Instead of teeth in the top front, they have a dental pad. This is...
I Wish I Had Flossed
The ancient Chinese wrapped tiny pieces of parchment around painful teeth, all of which contained written prayers and incantations. This is one of those broadly circulated "facts" that makes me wonder. . . . Have you ever tried to wrap floss around a tooth, let alone...
Look, I Told You I JUST Got a Filling in Mexico City!
Aztec dentists would mix iron filings, water and navel lint – then bake the mixture in a kiln to create a powerful magnetic dental bonding agent. This mixture was then inserted into cavities in order to seal them. Patients not only reported relief from cavities, but...
Hmmm…What Else Can We Use These For?
The Ancient Greeks were the first to discover and use pliers to extract teeth. Just wondering how that first conversation went ... "Hey Nick, let's see if this will work." "Looks good to me Gus. GIve it a whirl!" Probably not.
Urine Trouble
In Roman times, the ancient Gauls, as well as other people, used urine (which contained urea) as a mouth rinse in order to whiten their teeth. In fact, "urine therapy" -- strange as it may sound -- is still promoted in certain alternative medicine circles. Various...
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.
