Teeth are such an integral part of the body, especially the face and we constantly stress upon how they must be looked after and what can happen when they don’t get enough care. Dental care is a continuous lifelong process and begins very early in life. Good tooth care when young is indicative of how many will survive as age catches up, and what will their condition be with the wear and tear.
Besides the smile and articulation and speech, teeth also have many non-dental reasons for their importance. Below are 10 you must know about.
YOUR BABY’S SMILE BEGINS EARLY
Your baby’s teeth form before they are even born. What you eat and drink during pregnancy can affect the tooth buds long before they look nice and pearly after birth.
TEETH ARE PROTECTED WITH ARMOUR
Enamel is the body’s strongest tissue and has the largest percentage of minerals – almost 96%. This is even tougher than bones and protects not just the teeth, but gums and other soft tissue.
NAIL BITING CAN CHIP AND MAR TEETH
Nail biting is seemingly harmless but can cause irreversible damage to teeth. Finger nails are stronger than incisors and do much damage when continuously chomped upon from an early age.
SMILING IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO EMOTIONS
A smile doesn’t just brighten up faces, but makes an enormous difference to moods with the release of endorphins. Good teeth lend character to a smile and lighten the mood significantly.
ACIDS ARE TEETH’S BIGGEST ENEMY
Soda, acid, beverages like tea and coffee are extremely hamful for the teeth. They gradually erode the enamel. Children should not sip on these continuously. As they get older, rinsing the mouth will also help keep teeth intact.
WHITE TEETH AREN’T ALWAYS THE END PURPOSE
White teeth are most coveted and gives the impression of the teeth being well looked after. In actuality, teeth are off-white and the balance and symmetry of teeth are more important than their color.
TEETH GROWS IN STAGES
Teeth grow like trees, in stages. First they form under the gum, then they develop the crown and finally roots develop which anchor teeth to the jaw.
GOOD GRINS ARE IMPACTED BY GOOD GENES
Dental makeup is often passed on by parents to offspring. While this is explains why the gap in teeth is something you’re seeing in your child, it also helps pre-empt and take care of a problem before it becomes irreversible.
WISDOM TEETH SUFFER FROM LACK OF SPACE
Evolution can be blamed for wisdom teeth not finding the space to grow and develop. While often they have to be removed, some children aren’t born with them at all.
TEETH WORK AS HARD AS ANY PART OF THE BODY
Contrary to their immobility and therefore lack of movement, teeth work very hard everyday. From chewing, biting, tearing to mastication, they constantly break down food. Molars do much of this work and those missing it, exercise their teeth more often which further leads to breakdown. Brushing teeth is of utnost importance.
Did you know some of the above or have they been a revelation? Tell us more on any other special task your teeth can do. Write to us at pedopremila@gmail.com.
