QUIRKY DENTAL FACTS THAT MAY SURPRISE YOU

In this Southern York Smile Care post, your Shrewsbury PA dentist shares some fun facts about dentistry. Enjoy!

• Many dental patients are aware that before there was formal dental training and licensing, barbers often performed dental procedures. But did you know that blacksmiths also moonlighted as dentists?¹ How would you like your dental visit to involve tools used to hammer hot metal?
• The Mayans were accomplished cosmetic dentists. One smile style in Mayan culture was bejeweled teeth – a procedure that involved the drilling of holes to embed precious gems. That’s a grill with major bling! ¹
• The average human produces 25,000 quarts of saliva in a lifetime. That is enough to fill up two swimming pools.² (Not a very pleasant image, right?)
• Nylon toothbrush bristles weren’t introduced until 1938. Prior to that, pig hair was a common bristle material.³ (“Mom, my toothbrush smells like bacon!”)
• A popular toothache treatment in medieval Germany was to kiss a donkey.³ There is no evidence that it actually worked and it is unknown if the same remedy was used by donkeys.
• Every person’s tongue is unique – just like a fingerprint.⁴
• In medieval Japan, black teeth were considered appealing. Style-conscious women used roots to stain their teeth.³

At Southern York Smile Care, you won’t find pig hair, donkeys, or anvils. You will find premium dental care and our quality team of dental professionals. Our menu of services includes: cosmetic  and restorative dentistry.