Dental care: did you know?

  • Published
  • By 8th Medical Group
  • 8th Medical Group
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  According to the Academy of General Dentistry, the average person only brushes their teeth for 45 to 70 seconds a day. The recommended amount of time is two to three minutes and at least twice per day.

Worldwide, one in four adults over 60 has lost all of their permanent teeth. A good oral hygiene program can prevent tooth loss and should include twice daily brushing, flossing, eating a balanced diet, limiting between-meal snacks, and regular visits to your dentist for professional cleaning and oral exams.

Here are some other interesting dental facts:

· If you don't floss, you miss cleaning 35 percent of your total tooth surfaces.

· The earliest known dental work was found in the remains of a prehistoric farming village called Mahrgarh, Pakistan. A total of 11 teeth from nine adults who lived between 7,500 and 9,000 years ago were found containing holes drilled with sharpened flint points, according to a report in Science News Online. Flint-wielding specialists drilled holes, which were then filled with an unknown type of material.

· Each person's set of teeth is unique, much like their fingerprints. Even identical twins do not have exactly the same set of teeth. Did you know your tongue print is also unique?

· Paul Revere, in addition to earning a living as a silversmith and copper plate engraver, also worked as a dentist. Revere, in fact, is the first person known to use dental forensics, identifying the body of a Colonial colonel killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill by the bridge appliance he wore.

· People who drink three or more sugary sodas daily have 62 percent more dental decay than those who do not. The average American drinks more than 53 gallons of soft drinks each year, more than any other beverage, including milk, beer, coffee or water. Phosphoric acid in soda and citric acid in citrus drinks can cause tooth enamel corrosion, and the sugar can cause cavities.

· Research indicates people with periodontal disease (gum disease) are at higher risk for developing heart disease, stroke, uncontrolled diabetes, pre-term births and respiratory disease. Furthermore, people with periodontal disease are twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease than those without periodontal disease.

· There is a name and diagnosis for the soreness that results when you burn your mouth on melted mozzarella cheese when eating pizza. It is called "pizza palate."

· Tooth decay is the second most common disease in the U.S. after the common cold. According to the American Dental Association, Americans spent nearly $2.025 billion on Halloween candy in 2013. That amount of money would fund the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research for almost six years.

· How much is the tooth fairy currently paying children who have recently lost teeth? Two dollars per tooth! In 1900, the average tooth fairy payment was 12 cents. The average amount of money left by the tooth fairy in 1950 was 25 cents and in 1988 it was $1. Has your tooth fairy kept up with inflation?

· Responding to the 2003 Lemelson-MIT Invention Index survey, 34 percent of teens and 42 percent of adults chose the toothbrush first when asked to select the invention they could not live without from among five choices. The other four: the personal computer, automobile, microwave and cellular phone.

· The average woman smiles about 62 times a day. A man? Only eight times a day!

I hope you enjoyed these facts. Smile more! Brush and floss as instructed and more reasons to smile will find you! Take care, Wolf Pack.