Happy New Year! We hope 2020 is off to a great start for you and your family. We were having some fun with dental trivial and thought we’d share these fun facts with you. You never know when these might come in handy!

When was the toothbrush invented? The first bristle toothbrush was invented in China in 1498. However, versions of the toothbrush go back as far as 3000 BC when the Egyptians used chew sticks, or thin twigs, to rub against their teeth

Why is toothpaste mint flavored? Mint is used because of its clean, refreshing taste. The menthol also tricks the brain into thinking that you have ice in your mouth, enhancing the cool, refreshing feeling.

When did the field of dentistry begin? In 1828, Dr. John Harris started the world’s first dental school in Bainbridge, Ohio, which helped to establish dentistry as a health profession.

When was the first case of tooth decay documented? A Sumerian text from 5000 B.C. describes tooth worms as causing dental decay. While there is no such thing as tooth worms, the text goes to show how far back humans have been concerned with their teeth.

How many dentists are there in the US? There are currently 200,000 practicing dentists, which is about 60 dentists for every 100,000 people.

26,382: This is the most people to have simultaneously brushed their teeth — an event that occurred in India in November 2019. The event was organized to promote dental hygiene and life-long good oral health habits.

Teeth are the hardest substance in the human body. The problem, however, is that once they are damaged, they cannot regrow or heal themselves.

We hope you enjoyed reading through these dental facts! If you come across any that are not on our list, please let our team know so we can add them. Until we see you at your next visit, have a great rest of the month!