The Truth About Your Teeth

It’s rare, but it happens. One out of every 2,000 babies is born with tiny teeth. They’re often loose and can make breastfeeding hard. A doctor or dentist can take them out so the newborn won’t swallow them or scrape his tongue.

Adults usually have 32 teeth, including the four wisdom teeth in the back. Your wisdom teeth don’t come in until you are a teenager or a young adult (the “age of wisdom”). Some people never get them, though. Just means one less dental visit to have them pulled.

Here’s the truth about sugar and teeth: When you eat and drink makes a difference. It’s better to have a sweet tooth with your meal. It’s when your mouth makes more saliva, which washes away more sugar and bacteria.

In 1498, the Chinese started using stiff hairs from the back of a hog’s neck to make their toothbrushes. This was the standard until 1938, when a manufacturer switched to nylon bristles.

Enamel, the thin, outer layer of your teeth, is pretty tough. It’s actually the hardest substance in your body. But that doesn’t mean you can mistreat it. Acids from some foods and drinks can make enamel weaker, even wear it away. This can lead to cavities and sensitive teeth. 

What you eat affects your whole body, including your teeth. Caramels, cough drops, and lollipops all are bad news, but so are dried fruits like raisins. Why? They stick to your teeth and can cause decay. Soft bread can also get stuck in your ivories. If you want a snack that's good for your grill, go for the cheese. It helps your mouth make saliva. It can also give your teeth a boost of calcium to make them stronger. And it’s low in sugar.

Not every kid believes that the tooth fairy flies into their bedroom and swipes teeth from underneath their pillow, leaving a shiny coin. Children in Latin America and Spain grow up hoping for a visit from a hairy kind of fairy -- an impish mouse named El Ratón Pérez.

The first president had problems with his teeth for most of his life. By the time he was sworn in, Washington had one real tooth left. He had dentures made from gold, ivory, and lead -- but never wood (despite what you may have heard as a kid). Experts think his teeth might have been so stained that they looked like wood.

Just about any hockey player can tell you this. If you or your child gets a permanent tooth (not a baby one) knocked out in a sports game or an accident, find the tooth and rinse it off. Try to put it back in its place, but don’t force it. If you can’t, put the tooth in a small cup of milk or a cup of water with a pinch of salt. It’s important to keep it moist. Call your dentist as soon as possible. You’ll have the highest chance of saving the tooth if it’s replaced within an hour of being knocked out.

Way back when, folks blamed a worm for the stabbing pain of a toothache. They thought the pest bored its way into their tooth. A bad ache meant that the worm was wiggling. If it stopped hurting, the worm was resting.