Your mouth: where would you be without it? You probably don’t give your mouth too much thought, but pprehaps you should. Here are some fin facts you probably don’t know about your mouth, teeth and lips.

1. 1. Without saliva, we would not be able to taste anything

In order for food to have taste, chemicals from the food must first dissolve in saliva. Once dissolved, the chemicals can be detected by receptors on taste buds.

2. 2. The inside of your mouth contains as many bacteria as there are people on Earth

Around 100 to 200 species of bacteria can live in your mouth at any given time. Individuals that practice good oral hygiene have 1,000 to 100,000 bacteria living on each tooth surface, while less clean mouths can have between 100 million and 1 billion bacteria on each tooth.

3. 3. Teeth start to form before you are even born

Your teeth start to form while you are still in the womb but do not appear until you are six months old.

4. 4. Many diseases are linked to oral health

Your oral health can signal the presence of a number of conditions or diseases in other parts of your body, including heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. That is why it is important to have regular check-ups and take good care of your teeth and gums.

5. 5. There are approximately 10,000 taste buds in our mouth, of which most are located on the tongue

Taste buds are replaced every two weeks, although as you age some of the taste buds will not get replaced. An older person may have only 5,000 working taste buds. That’s why some foods may taste stranger to children than they do to adults. Smoking can also reduce the number of taste buds a person has.

6. 6. No two people have the same set of teeth

A person’s teeth are as unique as their fingerprint.

7. 7. Smiling helps you live longer

Every time you smile, your body produces greater amounts of antibodies, giving you an immunity a boost.

8. 8. The enamel on the surfaces of your teeth is the hardest substance in your whole body

It is however important that you care for your teeth as they are the only part of the body that cannot repair itself.

9. 9. If you don’t floss, you miss cleaning approximately 40% of the surfaces of your teeth

Proper interdental cleaning removes plaque and food particles in places where a toothbrush cannot easily reach.

10. 10. Surveys indicate that 50% of people say that someone’s smile is the first thing they notice

Make sure your smile is always looking its best with regular routine dental appointments and good oral hygiene.

Call today on 01245 421781 to book your consultation and see what our experienced dentists can do to help you maintain a healthy smile for years to come!