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Crazy Facts about Spit You Wish Your Dentist Never Told You

Spit, saliva – it’s the secret ingredient to the wet willies of childhood. Spit is also essential to oral health and cavity prevention. However gross it might seem, saliva helps fight harmful bacteria, prevents tooth decay, and aids in food digestion. See if you know any of the following facts about spit and why you can’t live without it.

Bathtubs of Drool

Humans drool a lot, between one and two liters per day. That’s enough to fill at least one bathtub per year, or 23,000 bathtubs in a lifetime!

Saliva Boosts the Romance Hormones

Kissing and romance go together. Kissing releases dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, the key romance ingredients. About 90% of human cultures engage in kissing, as do pygmy chimpanzees. Elephants kiss by sticking their trunks in each other’s mouths.

Parents’ Saliva Helps Ward off Disease in Their Kids

Did you know your spit can help inoculate your kids? Some scientists suggest parents wipe off dirty pacifiers with their own spit. They claim that doing so can help prevent allergies and transfer healthy bacteria to the child’s mouth. Assuming the parent or caregiver is in good health, the practice can help boost the immune system, teaching the kid’s body to be less sensitive to potential allergens like pets or peanuts.

Spit Helps Us Taste

Saliva makes it possible to taste food. Spit breaks down food molecules so they can travel to the taste buds, which react to the food’s flavors.

Saliva Comes from the Blood

Your salivary glands have a very strong and healthy blood supply. Blood flowing through those glands passes through your saliva capillaries, which leak out water and some antibodies. The capillaries are just big enough to emit only water and not the actual protein in your blood, which is why spit typically isn’t red.

Discover the Wonders of Oral Health

If you find saliva fascinating, your trusted local hygienist or provider at Beckham Square Family Dental can likely provide more insights on this and other aspects of oral health. Call us today at 513.489.7800 for an appointment. We’ll provide the best preventative care and discuss your family’s dental concerns.

 

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Cincinnati Veneers vs. Crowns: What’s the Difference?

What’s the main difference between veneers and crowns? That’s a question we get a lot in our Cincinnati office. Basically, a crown will cover your entire tooth. A veneer, on the other hand, is only bonded to the surface of the tooth. It’s really a question of thickness. Crowns are used when the entire tooth needs covered. Veneers are a good option if you only need part of the tooth. Veneers allow for minor changes in tooth shape. But they are more brittle and prone to fracturing. Crowns are ideal if a tooth is mostly decayed or badly broken. In the end, you want the option that will last the longest and look the most natural. Talk to your Cincinnati dentist about which is best for you. It really depends on the extent of damage to your tooth.

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