* One of the most distinctive physical feature of mammal species is the teeth.

* When you are about six years old, your first permanent molar usually erupts.

* The Ancient Egyptians used grains of salt to cure tooth decay.

* A premature birth can actually result to a late eruption of the wisdom tooth.

* Colgate actually first produced their toothpaste in 1873 in a mass produced jar?

* “Gingivitis” is the medical term for gum disease?

* In Europe and United States, tooth decay is the second most common disease next to common cold..

* There are more female dentist than male dentist. It is also said that patients prefer the female ones.

* The inventor of the rubber dam is Dr. S.C. Barnum, a New York-based Dentist in 1864.

* The first dental floss was manufactured in 1882. It was made out of silk. Today, floss made out of Gore-text is available in the market.

Myths And Facts

?  Does using a toothpick widen the gap between teeth?
+  No. Using a toothpick does not cause gaps between teeth. You can use a plastic or wood 
   toothpick but not a metal pin.

?  Can freshly squeezed lemon juice whiten teeth?
+  No amount of lemon juice will make your teeth any whiter. But it will definitely erode the
    enamel.

?  Are foods at extreme temperatures bad for teeth?
+  No. Drinking something extremely hot or cold cannot damage your teeth. But doing so
    consistently might damage some nerves. For instance, eating two-three ice candies everyday is a sure way to damage your nerves.

?  Does chocolate actually cause tooth decay?
+  No. Chocolate in itself does not cause any harm to the teeth. It is when you don't brush after
   eating sweets and chocolates that tooth decay happens.

?  Does the wisdom tooth have to be extracted?
+  No. It is not necessarily. An extraction is recommended if the tooth is poking your inner cheek,
   is growing in the way of a bone or is displacing the rest of the teeth.

?  Do the new whitening toothpastes and chewing gums actually work?
+  No. Being over the counter products, the concentration of the whitening element is much lesser
   than what is actually used by dentists. If you really want white teeth, visit the dentist.

?  Does thumb sucking cause the front teeth to protrude?
+  Yes. Thumb sucking by children causes the front teeth to protrude.

?  Does brushing your teeth too much erode the enamel?
+  Yes. If you brush in the wrong direction, then you are harming the enamel of your teeth. It is
   advisable to brush vertically and not horizontally. Using an electric toothbrush is more effective
   than using a hand brush. Also, the bristles of the brush should be soft so that it does not erode
   the enamel.

?  Is brushing with a neem datum (twig) better than using a toothbrush and toothpaste?
+  No. Neem datum is not advisable as it has bristles with irregularities, which can your gums.

?  Does brushing with salt whiten the teeth?
+  No. Salt is abrasive and can cut the gums, and since it is rough it can rub away the outer most
   layer of the tooth. The inner layers of the teeth are yellow. So the more you remove the
   enamel, the more yellow your teeth will become.

?  Can flossing harm the gums and cause gaps between teeth?
+  Yes. If flossing is done incorrectly, it could cause gaps between teeth. The right way to floss is
   to hold floss taut between two hands. Then place it between two teeth and floss 8-10 times with
   vertical strokes. If done correctly, flossing actually helps prevent cavities and tooth decay.