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They help us chew, smile, and speak, but how much do you really know about the hardest part of your body? Sink your teeth into these surprising facts!
Brush Beginner 0–4 · Molar Master 5–8 · Enamel Expert 9–10
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Canines are the sharp, pointed teeth used for tearing food. Humans have four of them, and they get their name because they resemble the long fangs of dogs. They have the longest roots of any human teeth, which makes them very stable and unlikely to fall out easily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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Tooth enamel is the hardest substance your body makes, even harder than bone. It is made almost entirely of minerals, which is why teeth can survive for thousands of years as fossils. Unlike bone, though, enamel cannot heal or grow back once it is damaged, because it contains no living cells.
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Dozenist assumed (based on copyright claims, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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Beavers and other rodents have front teeth that never stop growing, while sharks simply replace lost teeth with new ones. They must constantly gnaw on wood and bark to wear them down, otherwise the teeth would grow too long for them to eat. To make them extra tough, a beaver's front teeth contain iron, which gives them a distinct orange color.
Photo: Steve from Washington, DC, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
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Ratoncito Pérez is a beloved mouse who collects baby teeth left under pillows in exchange for coins or small gifts. The tradition began in the late 19th century when a writer created the character to soothe a young Spanish king who had just lost a tooth.
Photo: Mariano Pedrero, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
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George Washington suffered from terrible dental problems and wore dentures made of human teeth, animal teeth, and ivory, all held together by brass screws. Despite the popular myth, none of his dentures were ever made of wood, as wood would have rotted quickly in his mouth.
Photo: The Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons, No restrictions.
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Bruxism is the unconscious grinding or clenching of teeth, often triggered by stress or anxiety. It can wear down enamel and cause severe jaw pain. People who grind their teeth can apply hundreds of pounds of pressure per square inch, which is strong enough to crack teeth over time.
Photo: en:user:DRosenbach, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
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Some Romans used urine as a mouthwash, because the ammonia in it helps lift stains. The poet Catullus even made fun of a man whose bright smile came from this habit. Urine was so useful in Rome, for laundries and tanners too, that Emperor Vespasian put a tax on urine collected from public toilets.
Photo: Thegreenj, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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Most modern dental fillings are made from composite resin, a mixture of plastic and fine glass particles that can be matched to the exact color of your tooth. Titanium is highly durable but is used for dental implants that screw into the jawbone rather than filling simple cavities.
Photo: Politikaner, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
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Guinea pigs are born fully furred, with their eyes open, and with a complete set of teeth ready to chew solid food from day one. This allows the young pups to survive independently very quickly in the wild, unlike many other mammals that rely solely on milk for weeks.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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Chitons are small marine mollusks that use rows of tiny, iron-clad teeth to scrape algae off ocean rocks. Their teeth are capped with magnetite, a magnetic mineral that makes them incredibly resistant to wear. Scientists are studying this natural structure to design stronger materials for tools and machinery.
Photo: Taollan82, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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