Weird Dental Facts
Exploring the Quirky and Curious World of Dentistry
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Floss & Found: Unraveling the History of Dental Floss
Dental floss was initially made from silk in the early 19th century. Today, it's typically made from nylon or Teflon. Dental floss has a surprisingly long and diverse history. While modern dental floss is typically made from nylon or Teflon, its origins trace back to...
Brushing Up on History: The Electrifying Tale of the Broxodent!
The electric toothbrush was first introduced in Switzerland in 1954. It was called the "Broxodent" and was originally developed for patients with limited motor skills. The Broxodent holds a notable place in dental history as one of the pioneering electric...
That’s REALLY Long in the Tooth!
The Guinness World Record for the longest human tooth extracted belongs to a man from India. His tooth measured an astonishing 3.67 inches (9.3 cm) long! The man's name was Kumar Paswan, and this remarkable tooth was removed in 2014 from Kumar's upper jaw due to an...
Buzzing Relief: The Bee’s Wax Dental Fix
The world's oldest known dental filling was found in a 6,500-year-old jawbone discovered in Slovenia. It was filled with beeswax to alleviate pain from a cavity. The discovery of a 6,500-year-old dental filling made of beeswax in Slovenia offers a fascinating glimpse...
The Cut and Paste Job: Barber-Surgeons and Dental Duties
During the Middle Ages, "barber-surgeons" not only cut hair and performed surgeries but also extracted teeth. The red and white striped pole outside barber shops today is a relic of this history, representing blood and bandages. Barber-surgeons were an interesting...
Grin and Bare It: Embracing Yaeba’s Quirky Charm
In Japan, there's a tradition called "Yaeba," where some people intentionally pay to have their teeth unstraightened because it's considered cute and youthful. Yaeba, a term originating from Japan, refers to the dental aesthetic of having slightly protruded and...
This IS My Happy Face
The stone-faced farmer in artist Grant Wood’s famous “American Gothic” painting was actually the artist’s dentist! (Dr. Byron McKeeby)
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Like your fingerprints, everyone has a unique set of teeth. Even identical twins have different “dental fingerprints”!
4,999,999 and Counting
Sports-related injuries account for approximately 5 million missing teeth per year, so make sure you wear a mouth guard, if you or your little ones are athletes.
