Dentists might be one of the most hated people in the medical profession. All of that grinding and brushing and drilling is enough to set even the most sane people on edge when they have a toothache. About 10% of people even have enough anxiety for when they visit the dentist that it qualifies as a phobia. Dentists aren’t bad folks, however, and these interesting facts will help to prove it.
1. They Are Exposed to Hundreds of Bacteria Every Day
The plaque that is on a person’s teeth is loaded with bacteria. There are actually over 300 different kinds of bacteria that make up this nasty substance that the dentist cleans off for you. That means dentists are exposed to more bacteria every day than a majority of other professions, including family doctors. This fact should also make you think twice about putting a mouth wash on your next shopping list.
2. Dentists Have Been Around for Forever… Literally
The first records of modern dentistry actually date back to the Ancient Egyptians. Scientists have found mummies that have had resin fillings in their teeth when cavities would form. If that’s not impressive enough for you, the Roman Empire had dentists that created gold crowns, would make custom bridges to fix gaps in teeth, and even created toothpaste for better hygiene. That’s a lot better than the folks in medieval Germany who would kiss donkeys to cure their toothaches.
3. Dentists Didn’t Use Wood to Create the Dentures George Washington Wore
It’s actually an urban legend that Washington had wooden teeth. Here’s a fact about dentists that you can take to your history teacher: Washington’s dentures were actually made from the teeth of other humans. For added fun, a little ivory, gold, lead, hippopotamus, and donkey teeth were added as well so that you could smile a winning smile.
4. Cotton Candy Was Actually Invented By a Dentist
Does your dentist lecture you about the amount of sweets and soda that you consume? Then you might want to let your dentist know that cotton candy was actually invented by a dentist. It was even named “fairy floss” at one time and some countries still call this sweet treat by its original name – or refer to it as “candy floss.” Considering 3 out of 4 people would rather go grocery shopping than floss their teeth, it’s an interesting name choice.
5. It’s a Gothic Type of Life
Grand Wood painted a very famous painting called “American Gothic.” There’s a good chance that you’ve probably seen pictures of it at some point. It’s an image of an elderly couple holding farming tools. What you might not have known is that the man in the picture was actually Wood’s dentist. That’s what you call going the extra mile for a patient in need.
6. Keep Your Toothbrush Clean
Remember to keep your toothbrush at least 6 feet away from the toilet to prevent germs from spreading and visit the dentist regularly. In doing so, you can share these interesting facts and potentially ignore the sound of drilling that is coming from the chair next door.