PLANTATION, Fla., Nov. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thanksgiving is the perfect time to show gratitude for the 32 little friends that live in our mouths. If someone is struggling with reasons to be thankful for their teeth, below are :DentalPlans' top ten reasons why people should love their smile:
1: Thanks to hard working teeth. With at least three meals a day, an average chewing rate of about 10 times per mouthful of food, means approximately 10,000 bites per meal. With a minimum of three meals per day, that equates to 30,000 chews per day. And, if one consumes more than three meals or chews gum often, then their teeth are working overtime. It is not easy being a tooth.
2: Thanks for reducing our health risks. Teeth, if kept healthy, help to prevent risk for serious conditions or disease such as strokes, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and even infertility.
3: Thanks for liking cheese AND wine. Cheese and wine can ward off decay. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), red wine contains chemicals (proanthocyanidins) that may help stop bacteria from sticking to teeth, and cheese helps ward off cavities by making saliva more alkaline, according to Colgate.
4: Thanks for being undemanding. The average person spends 38 days brushing their teeth during their lifetime. That's just one short month of loving care during one's typical 71-year human life span.
5: Thanks for putting up with us. Over the centuries, and before modern toothpaste, people scrubbed their teeth with a variety of rough, unfavorable ingredients. This includes: powdered ashes of oxen hooves, crushed myrrh, burned egg shells, powered pumice stone, crushed snail shells, pepper, rock salt, talc, and iron rust.
6: Thanks for being unique. Every person has a distinct, unique set of teeth, fingerprints and even tongue print. In fact, identical twins, which one would think would have the same set of teeth, do not.
7: Thanks for not going crazy and overpopulating. Dogs have 42 teeth, pigs 44 teeth, opossums 50 teeth and snails thousands. For humans, flossing 32 teeth is more than enough.
8: Thanks for evolving. Wisdom teeth were useful to our ancestors, who relied on their teeth to grind up food. As technology and teeth have evolved, there is less of a need for wisdom teeth. In fact, 35% of people are now born without wisdom teeth and the number may dwindle over time.
9: Thanks for staying fit. The average Elephant's tooth weighs over 6 pounds and measures one foot across. It is appreciated that human teeth are reasonable in size.
10: Thanks for brightening days. Children smile 400 times a day, but adults only smile 20 times a day. According to several studies, smiling can reduce stress on the body and mind, improve one's mood and may boost productivity.
Overall, the best way show gratitude for teeth is by visiting a dentist regularly and maintaining healthy oral habits. Ninety percent of dental decay is caused by oral bacteria, which can be controlled by good oral hygiene at home and consistent professional care.
:DentalPlans is offering 15% off any dental savings plan on dentalplans.com through the month of December. To take advantage of the discount, simply use the promo code "PRDENTAL" when joining a plan.
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About :DentalPlans
:DentalPlans, founded in 1999, is a leading dental and health savings marketplace in the U.S., helping more than a million people to affordably access quality healthcare services. Our mission is to empower consumers with the tools, information, and services that they need to live happier, healthier lives. For more information, visit us at www.dentalplans.com and find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. For recent news follow us on Twitter (@DentalPlansPR).