Dentistry dates back to prehistoric times. People were inventing ways and tools to take care of their teeth long before “dentistry” actually became a thing, let alone a profession. For instance, during in the Middle Ages, many barbers often served dentists and surgeons. In addition to haircutting and shaving, they would perform tooth extractions and bloodletting. We’ve come along way in the dental industry, and good thing because most dental procedures today are routine and safe. Here are some fun facts about dentistry and teeth from around the world.
Bedazzled Teeth: The Mayans are the first people to put “bling” in their smile. For their time, the Mayans practiced some pretty advanced dental procedures. Elite Readers published an article detailing the Mayan practice of embedding gems into their teeth. Talk about bedazzling!
Birth of the Toothbrush: The Chinese are credited with inventing the very first toothbrush during the 15thCentury. An article from Colgate describes the first toothbrush’s bristles as being made from pig hairs, which were attached to a bamboo handle. Although the toothbrush has evolved quite a bit, the concept remains the same!
Dental Tourism: Not that we condone it, but if you’re a risk taker looking to save some cash, you might be interested to know that dental tourism is a thriving industry. Gasp! According to Dental Departures, a company that places people with dental practices around the world, here are the top dental tourism destinations: Mexico, Thailand, Indonesia (Bali), Spain, Turkey, Malaysia, Philippines, Poland, Costa Rica, and Hungary.
Presidential Dentures: It’s a longtime myth that George Washington rocked some wooden teeth. According to an article published by Live Science earlier this year, Washington had several sets of dentures made from various materials including ivory, metal alloys, and teeth from deceased humans.
Primitive Toothpaste: The Egyptians are noted for inventing the first ever toothpaste circa 5000BC. In a detailed article published on Realm of History, the ingredients of this toothpaste called for one drachma (one-hundredth of an ounce) of rock salt, one drachma of mint, and one drachma of the dried iris flower, all mixed with around 20 grains of pepper. Sounds like an interesting way to get fresh breath!
Poor Oral Health: Have you ever wondered who has the worst teeth in the world, or more accurately, worst oral health? Hint…it’s not the British. Also, the US isn’t on the list, phew! In an article published in Dentist’s Money Digest, these are top countries with the worst oral health: Philippines, India, Australia, Bolivia, and Poland. Ironic how some of these also made the list for dental tourism destinations!
The Dental Patriarch: French surgeon, Pierre Fauchard is recognized as the Father of Modern Dentistry. The ADA notes that he published the book, The Surgeon Dentist,which was the first of its kind to describe the complexity of dentistry, highlighting everything from oral anatomy and function to oral surgery.
Tooth Fairy Tale: There are many rituals around the world dating back to ancient history regarding the loss of baby teeth. The modern tooth fairy as Americans know traces back to the early 1900s. In a Reader’s Digest article, the modern day tooth fairy is said to be derived from the 1927 mini-play,The Tooth Fairywritten by Esther Watkins Arnold.
If you would like to schedule an appointment for a cleaning and an exam, call us at 954-344-4488, or complete an online appointment request to schedule your consultation.