Believe it or Not: 15 Curious Facts About Dentistry

Modern technology may have made our lives fast-paced and highly demanding, but it has also offered us many convenient developments we couldn’t live without. Dentistry is no exception. The field has vastly evolved since the days when pulling teeth was the only way to treat pain and damage. Thanks to modern restorative dentistry that focuses on teeth aesthetic and functional restoration, we can keep flashing beautiful smiles even when our teeth needed treatment.

Dentistry has an intriguing history. Here are 15 historical facts that will give you a new appreciation for modern dental healthcare and the restorative treatment methods available to us today.

Old Oral Hygiene Practices

Fact 1: The First Toothbrush

Before we had the luxury of choosing between hard bristle, soft bristle, or battery-powered toothbrushes, the humble twig kept teeth plaque-free. Chewing on the ends of small branches spread out the fibers, which cleaned teeth. Even though this sounds like a great eco-friendly and biodegradable solution, we would miss the minty-fresh feeling of our modern, well-polished pearly whites.

Fact 2: The First Toothpaste

Before the invention of modern fluoride toothpaste and rise of cosmetic and restorative dentistry, Ancient Greeks turned to pumice, coral powder, talc, alabaster, or iron rust. Other pre-modern forms of toothpaste included crushed oyster shells, pulverized brick, ground chalk, charcoal, lemon juice, and salt.

Fact 3: A Curious Cure

According to legend, the only way to get rid of a toothache in medieval Germany was to kiss a donkey on the lips. Although you may have temporarily forgotten about your aching tooth in the moment of repugnance, we’re not so sure about the long-term cure.

Fact 4: The Cause of Toothache

Before 1960, toothache was thought to be the cause of a tooth worm that lived in your gums. If your toothache subsided, the tooth worm was dormant or simply resting.

Dentists in Medieval & Colonial Times

Fact 5: Blacksmith Dentists

Before dentistry was a recognized profession, blacksmiths who made metal objects and horseshoes often doubled as dentists.

Fact 6: Barber Dentists

If you were a jack-of-all-trades, becoming a barber was the perfect profession for you in medieval times. Besides trimming hair and cutting beard, barbers also performed minor surgery and extracted teeth as a remedy for decay. They could also fill cavities and create false teeth using human teeth and cow bone.

In the 14th century, barber dentists began using a tool called a “dental pelican” and later a “dental key” to extract teeth. These tools were precursors to further developments of modern-day dental practitioner tools.

While inventive, barbers’ dental work focused largely on extracting infected teeth to relieve pain. Preventive oral care, much less restorative dentistry, was not yet a well-rounded concept for most people.

Dental Dentures Horror Stories

Fact 7: Daffy Dentures

Francis Wharton, a Canadian woodsman in the 1960s, found himself in need of tooth restoration. Without access to dental care in his remote location, he constructed his own tooth replacements.

The woodsman killed a deer and spent hours filing down its teeth until they resembled something he thought replicated human teeth. Using a combination of plastic wood filler and rubber cement, he implanted his own false teeth as a homemade restorative dentistry procedure. Later, Wharton cooked and enjoyed the deer for dinner using his new set of dentures. Unsurprisingly, he was known as the “bucktooth man” after that.

Fact 8: Superglue Dentures

Even today, many people have dental phobias, but Angie Barlow was so terrified that she intervened on her own behalf. For more than 10 years, Angie used superglue to put her teeth back into place when they fell out. Although she succeeded in creating homemade dentures, it was discovered that she lost 90% of the bone structure supporting the upper teeth when she finally got to a dentist.

Fact 9: DIY Crafts for Dentures

Crystal, a newly single mother, also resorted to using non-food-grade materials to forge her own dentures. After suffering severe pregnancy gingivitis, she turned to craft supplies. She restored her previously flawless smile with homemade polymorph bead dentures. It’s important to note that she ended up swallowing a few of them as well.

Interesting (and Confirmed) Teeth Trivia

Fact 10: Gum Disease and Diabetes

It makes sense that your mouth is the gateway to a lot of bacteria entering the body. Doctors and dental practitioners have discovered a connection between gum disease-causing bacteria and the inflammation associated with other diseases. Bacteria enter the bloodstream through the mouth and travel to other areas, contributing to complications in diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Fact 11: Heart Attack Warnings

A painful jaw combined with chest pain can signal a heart attack, especially in women.

Fact 12: Toothaches for the Rich

In ancient Egypt, the wealthy were more likely to experience toothaches. Sugary treats and honey were generally not affordable for low-class workers, who ate onions instead.

Fact 13: Children Without Tooth Decay

Sugar consumption is one of the main causes of tooth decay in children. Since sugar was not part of a prehistoric diet, there most likely was no tooth decay present in children.

Fact 14: Cheese for Dental Health

If you love aged cheddar, Swiss cheese, and Monterey Jack, you’re in luck. These types of cheese are among those beneficial to protecting teeth from decay.

Fact 15: You Have an Oral Fingerprint

In the same way that everyone has a unique fingerprint, everyone has a unique tongue print and oral construction. Each person’s teeth are entirely unique from the moment they are born. In fact, a baby’s teeth start developing six weeks after conception while in the womb.

The unique nature of every single tooth prompted the use of dental records as a method of identification.

Sterngold: Your Partner in Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry has evolved significantly and continues to do so. Thanks to modern dental sicence, technology, and a better understanding of oral health, patients can receive the appropriate treatment and oftentimes, have their teeth restored at treatment.

As a well-established provider of restorative dentistry products, Sterngold has been privy to advances in the field over the past 125 years. Sterngold helps dentists and dental technicians in their use of the most effective products and technology in providing dental care that result in increased patient satisfaction.

Chat with our Sterngold team today for information on digital dentures and the latest restorative dentistry developments.