Jaws–Shark Week:)

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, excited about Shark Week,…hope you are too!:)

For years now, Shark Week has been a big deal in my household.  We look forward to it every summer.  This year it’s in June instead of August, but it was actually a nice surprise.  So because Shark Week only comes around once a year, I thought it would be fun to learn cool facts about shark teeth and how we measure up to their JAWS!:)

Sharks are born with teeth.–Our first teeth form in the gums before birth and begin erupting at about 6 months of age.  Unlike humans, shark pups enter the world with a full set of teeth .  This makes it easy for them to feed and fend for themselves, since there is no parental care.

Sharks have thousands of teeth.  Our complete set of 20 temporary teeth is usually in place by age 2 or 3.  By around age 18, we have our complete adult set, totaling 32 teeth.  By contrast, most sharks have 5 rows of teeth, and can have as many as 3,000 teeth at once! It’s a good thing sharks never run out of teeth, as they lose up to 100 per day.  This is due to their daily diet of large fish and sea mammals.

Shark teeth fix themselves.  The tooth is the only part in the human body that can’t repair itself.  With the exception of our baby teeth, a lost permanent tooth can’t be replaced naturally.  Sharks are luckier than us in that respect.  If a tooth falls out, another spins forward from their rows and rows of backup teeth.

If the Tooth Fairy visited sharks, they would all be rich! LOL

Shark teeth have built-in toothpaste.  It’s no wonder sharks don’t get cavities–the surface of their teeth contains 100%fluoride!  The teeth of humans and other mammals contain hydroxyapatite, which is an organic compound also found in bone.

Sharks are the ocean’s top predators, mostly due to their enormous and powerful chompers.  They need to do very little to maintain their JAWS, but for humans that’s not the case.  With that in mind, remember that we are not exactly sharks and we must Brush, Floss, and visit the dentist for our routine cleanings and check ups to maintain a healthy smile.

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

In the meantime, you can follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/casasmilespediatricdentistryandorthodontics?pnref=lhc. Instagram http://instagram.com/casasmiles/, Twitter https://twitter.com/casa_smiles, Yelp http://www.yelp.com/biz/casa-smiles-pediatric-dentistry-and-orthodontics-coral-gables & Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/casasmiles/ to hear all about our daily news! You can always call or email us with any questions, concerns, to make an appointment, or for a complimentary Ortho Consultation http://www.casasmiles.com/contact-us/.

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)