at mcgann facial design, we take dentistry seriously.
but we think teeth can be fun too!
it’s the last day of february. it’s windy and rainy here in san diego (not so much fun). so why not start off the weekend (and march) with some fun-filled dental history facts about your teeth, mouth, and other things dental? discover 10 new dental facts today. enjoy!
1. the earliest known dentist was hesi-re, an egyptian “doctor of the tooth” who lived around 3000 b.c.
2. from the 5th to the 15th century a.d., dentistry was practiced by “barber-surgeons”, who performed a variety of services including cutting hair and extracting teeth.
3. in 1846, dr. william morton, a dentist born in massachusetts, demonstrated the first use of ether during a surgical procedure at massachusetts general hospital, ending the pain that had been associated with surgery.
4. although teeth-straightening has been practiced since early times, orthodontics as a science did not exist until the 1880’s.
5. during the middle ages, wealthy europeans used twigs made out of sweet-smelling wood to clean their teeth.
6. the saying “cat got your tongue” originated 2500 years ago in ancient assyria where conquered soldiers and criminals had their tongues cut out and fed to the king’s cats.
7. like toothbrushes, compounds for cleaning teeth and freshening breath have been used since ancient times. early egyptians, chines, greek and roman writings describe different mixtures for toothpastes and powders including powdered fruit, honey, dried flowers, mice and lizard livers!
8. teeth are the hardest substance in the human body – tooth enamel is the hardest and most highly mineralized substance in the body.
9. cavities in teeth have been filled since the earliest of times with a variety of different materials including gum, stone chips, and even turpentine resin!
10. the lifespan of a tastebud is about 10 days. the five known tastes detected by taste buds are: bitter, sour, salty, sweet, and umami. umami was identified in 1908 by a japanese researcher and the chemical responsible for it is monosodium glutamate.
while these fun facts will give you something to smile about, oral health is more than just fun and games. practicing good dental health habits can foster a healthy smile for a lifetime. here at mcgann facial design, we believe that knowledge is power. check our future posts for more dental facts and to learn more about your mouth. if you have any questions, concerns, or suffer from issues with your teeth or jaw, call or email us today!
to learn more about what we do, meet our team, and read patient stories, visit our website www.mcgannfacialdesign.com
stay dry. stay safe. and enjoy your weekend!
