Teeth Facts for Kids

We all know that teeth play an important role in our overall health. Some of us (eh, me) were less concerned about my own teeth until I became a mom. Now, I have spent a ton of time, energy, stress and money on my children’s teeth. Teeth are pretty interesting though! Baby teeth, also known as primary teeth, adult teeth, also known as permanent teeth, wisdom teeth, canine teeth, dental hygiene, parts of a tooth, what does it all mean? I put together this list of teeth facts for kids (and you) to learn all about teeth. Reading through this list is a great way to get your kids interested and excited about their teeth.

We all know that teeth play an important role in our overall health. Some of us (eh, me) were less concerned about my own teeth until I became a mom. Now, I have spent a ton of time, energy, stress and money on my children’s teeth. Teeth are pretty interesting though! Baby teeth, also known as primary teeth, adult teeth, also known as permanent teeth, wisdom teeth, canine teeth, dental hygiene, parts of a tooth, what does it all mean? I put together this list of teeth facts for kids (and you) to learn all about teeth. Reading through this list is a great way to get your kids interested and excited about their teeth.

Interesting Facts about Teeth

1. Tooth enamel is the outer part of the tooth, the shiny white coating that covers the teeth.
2. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, it’s even stronger than bone.
3. Below the enamel is dentin, which is also a hard substance (but not as hard as enamel). It protects the inside part of your tooth.
4. Tooth enamel has the highest percentage of minerals of any tissue in the body, 96% to be exact.
5. Kids’ teeth begin to grow in the womb. They have 20 primary, or baby teeth, that are already in a baby’s jaw when they are born, just waiting to grow in. Some babies are born with a tooth or two already showing.
6. Adults can have up to 32 permanent teeth.
7. Your four front teeth on the top and bottom are sharp for holding and cutting food.
8. The first tooth can break through the gums as early as 6 months old. Ouch!
9. The main mineral found in tooth enamel is called hydroxyapatite, or crystalline calcium phosphate.
10. Teeth are unique – everyone has a different set of teeth, just like fingerprints: and your tongue print is unique too!
11. The average American spends nearly 40 days brushing their teeth over the course of their lifetime.
12. Dental plaque is the material that sticks to teeth and releases acids that eat away at the tooth’s enamel and causes cavities.
13. About 300 types of different bacteria make up dental plaque on a single tooth. That bacteria causes tooth decay.
14. Adults have four different types of teeth: 12 molars (including 4 wisdom teeth, which not everybody will get), eight premolars, four canines, and eight incisors.
15. Most people chew their food on the same side of your mouth as your dominant hand. People who are right-handed usually chew on the right side of their mouths, and people who are left handed normally chew their food on the left side of their mouth.
16. There is “pulp” on the inside of your tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels, which is surrounded by dentin and finally enamel.
17. Children start to lose their teeth at around 5 or 6 years old, as they’re pushed out by their permanent teeth growing in.
18. Two-thirds of your teeth are hidden below your gums.
19. Most adults have 32 teeth.

More Fun Facts About Teeth

1. Baby teeth are sometimes called “milk teeth”. They are formally know as deciduous teeth and also known as baby teeth or primary teeth.
2. The definition of deciduous teeth is: a temporary tooth of a young mammal.
3. The most common childhood disease is tooth decay.
4. A tooth that gets knocked out of your mouth will start to die within 15 minutes.
5. Periodontal disease is more common than you realize. 3 out of 4 patients have it to one degree or another.
6. Teeth contain stem cells… researchers are currently using dental stem cells to try and regrow human teeth.
7. Humans have four types of teeth: incisors, canine, premolars and molars.
8. People who drink 3 or more servings of soda a day have 62% more tooth decay.
9. 25% of American children won’t see a dentist before they enter kindergarten.
10. In the early 1920s, only half of those in North America had any teeth at all. Cavities were not seen as preventable so once a tooth got a cavity, it was simply pulled.
11. Less than 10% of people today have lost any teeth at all. Prevention techniques allow us to keep our teeth throughout our lifespan.
12. Teeth are the only body part that cannot repair themselves.
13. Tooth decay is the #2 disease in America and it’s totally preventable.
14. About 5 million teeth go missing every year because of sports injuries.
15. Many people don’t lose all their baby teeth until they are about 12 years old
16. Teeth are actually part of the digestive system. This is because they chew food into smaller pieces so we can digest it.
17. Your upper jaw and lower jaw muscles allow your the teeth in the back of your mouth to generate 200 pounds of force to chew.
18. Only two-thirds of your teeth are visible. The rest is hidden inside your gum.
19. The average woman smiles more than men, and children are 26 times more likely to laugh than an adult.
20. Saliva helps protect against gum disease, tooth decay, and infectious disease. It even helps protect those pearly whites from stains. The average human produces 25,000 quarts of saliva in their lifetime.

Dental Facts About Teeth Brushing, Oral Hygiene, and Dental Care

1. You should brush your teeth twice a day to protect your oral health and prevent tooth loss
2. You should also use dental floss twice a day to clean the areas between your teeth.
3. The average person only brushes their teeth for 45 to 70 seconds a day, but it is recommended that you brush for two-three minutes.
4. Brushing your teeth also helps to stimulate the gums, keeping them healthy and helping to prevent gum disease.
5. Brushing too much, or for too long, can also damage your teeth by wearing away the enamel.
6. The average American spends 38.5 days brushing their teeth throughout their lifetime.
7. U.S. consumers buy about 14 million gallons of toothpaste annually
8. Before toothpaste came about people used honey, tobacco, ground chalk, ashes, lemon juice, and even charcoal to clean their teeth!
9. Blue toothbrushes are purchased more than any other color
10. When you don’t floss you miss cleaning roughly 35% of your tooth’s surface
11. If you floss your teeth once a day you will use over 5 miles of floss during a lifetime.
12. Floss was first made commercially in 1882, yet the majority of people today rarely or never floss.
13. Plaque starts to form 4 hours after brushing.

These interesting teeth facts are great if you’re having a hard time convincing your young children about the importance of caring for their teeth at an early age, or making regular visits to the pediatric dentist! Many people believe that a a child’s teeth aren’t all that important since their first teeth will be replaced by the second set of teeth, but according to the American Dental Association, even a child’s first set of teeth will require fillings if they get painful cavities.

Taking care of your teeth is a big deal from the time they start growing in and for the rest of your life! If your children can appreciate and learn how to care for their teeth at a young age, it will benefit their dental health for life!

Speaking of teeth, if the tooth fairy has ever eh…forgotten to come to your house, I have the perfect solution for you.

jessicalebrun

Hi, I’m Jessica! I am wife to Chris, and mom to Kaiper, Alana and Koa. I am a graphic designer, website developer and aspiring author. In this space, I share about everything from parenting, working from home, food we cook, and lots of things for kids! Learn more about me here.