An even row of teeth is a sign of beauty and health. Although many people dream of a Hollywood smile only for aesthetic reasons, in fact, a correct bite is very important for the whole body. Therefore, dentists recommend resorting to orthodontic correction immediately after identifying a problem. Protruding teeth can be either a congenital defect or an acquired one. Modern medicine has something to offer in both cases.
Fernand Joseph Contandin - owner of the largest teeth in the world
At the moment, the actor, who went down in cinematic history under the nickname Fernandel, is considered the man with the largest and longest teeth in the world.
It cannot be said that it was his teeth that helped Fernandel become famous. However, the actor became famous throughout the world, received the Legion of Honor award and was named one of the most outstanding citizens of France, earning great respect from the public. It is believed that Fernandel can be recognized by his teeth. Just like Charlie Chaplin, by the mustache. The audience especially enjoyed those moments when the actor whistled loudly.
The most expensive paleontological sale
October 3, 2009
In Las Vegas, USA, an auction was held at
Bonhams & Butterfields of a Tyrannosaurus rex nicknamed “Samson” was put up for sale . Samson's length during his lifetime reached 12 meters, and his weight was approximately 4.5 tons. The auction organizers expected to earn at least $6 million from the sale of the skeleton; previously it was offered for $8 million, but in the end “Samson” was sold for about $5 million to a collector from the United States who wished to remain anonymous. The amount of 5 million dollars is also approximate, because... the exact figure remains unknown and is based on sources close to the auction. Another interesting fact is that the skeleton of the tyrannosaurus “Samson” was actually the skeleton of a female, not a male. The new owner of such an expensive find provides it for display to museums and it delights visitors from all over the world.
Interesting facts about human teeth
It is not difficult to guess that Hollywood stars use expensive dental services to ensure the best dental condition and give the public an excellent smile. However, we must never forget that our teeth are a valuable gift of nature, and they have their own characteristics.
It is now known that tooth enamel is the strongest tissue in the human body. High hardness of tooth enamel is necessary in order to cope with a wide variety of foods. All people have unique sets of teeth. It doesn't matter how big or small they are. This is due not only to genetics, but also to lifestyle features. A large volume of saliva accumulates in the oral cavity every day. Up to one and a half liters per day. This is necessary to protect teeth from bacteria, additional cleaning of enamel, etc.
How human teeth evolved
There is not a single person in the modern world who could surpass the size of teeth of those people who lived approximately 100 thousand years ago. Our ancestors had very large and long teeth, because they needed to eat rough plant foods and raw meat. The digestive system was also different, but it adapted to the corresponding reality. Anthropologists have calculated that human teeth have been steadily shrinking since then—by about 0.95% in each era.
While studying the remains of the skulls of ancient people, scientists noticed that they had large and long fangs that allowed them to hold food. Currently, the largest and longest tooth is the first molar, located on the upper jaw.
In pursuit of unusualness
But some people want to stand out so much that they go to extreme measures. Popular in the last decade, vampire-like fangs have become part of a certain subculture.
One of the cosmetic rejuvenation procedures, for example, involves increasing molars. This changes the bite, lengthens the face and leads to a visible reduction in nasolabial folds and correction of the facial contour.
But such vampire fangs did not bring joy to the Chinese boy Wang Penfei. In 2012, his fangs grew and his growth slowed. The boy became withdrawn and aggressive with peers who were whispering behind his back.
The longest fang – 36.7 mm – was removed from an 18-year-old Indian in 2017. It turned out to be 4.7 mm longer than what was already included in the Guinness Book of Records. For comparison: the average size of a human fang is 20 mm.
Can large and long teeth be considered a pathology?
Long teeth cannot be called a pathology if they grow normally. There are many examples in the world of people who have large teeth, but they have no problems in everyday life. The most striking examples are the inhabitants of island states. Some of them have very powerful jaws, with which they can easily cut through plant food and even peel the fruits of exotic trees.
The problem with large and long teeth begins the moment twisting occurs. Due to the developing malocclusion, a person begins to experience discomfort, and his smile loses its aesthetics. The bite is important for the digestive system, so it should be taken care of. All over the world, doctors recommend monitoring the condition of your teeth, not only by using toothpaste, but also by performing a dental examination in front of a mirror. Because of large teeth, people often experience communication problems.
Correction methods
Modern dentistry offers several ways to solve the problem of large teeth. Only a professional doctor - a dentist or orthodontist - will tell the patient what to do and whether it is necessary. The following techniques will help correct the size of teeth:
- Grinding with a special machine can grind down the enamel and give the teeth the optimal size and shape.
- If necessary, it is possible to correct teeth with restoration using a modern composite.
- If it is not possible to sharpen the teeth, you can build up the adjacent teeth using ceramic onlays (veneers, lumineers).
- In some cases, large teeth are just the consequences of an incorrect bite. This is corrected with braces.
- As a last resort, you can resort to removing the tooth and replacing it with an implant of the required size.
How to distinguish big teeth
There are certain standards for the teeth of Europeans. It is determined in the world that the norm for the length of the upper incisors should be a maximum of 13 mm, for the lateral ones it is approximately 2 mm shorter. If the norm is exceeded by one and a half times, then it is customary to diagnose macrodentia.
Long teeth can be corrected. The most common method is grinding. Sometimes it cannot be resorted to, so correction followed by restoration is used. If the reason your teeth appear large is due to an incorrect bite, braces are used. The fashion world's beauty standards are often surprising, so it's normal for people with big, long teeth to gain a lot of publicity. Some of the most famous Hollywood stars, such as Julia Roberts and Anne Hathaway, have very interesting smiles. Therefore, deviation from the norm cannot always be considered something bad. If the teeth do not interfere, then they can be left as nature intended them. There are a number of famous actors who consider their large and long teeth to be a gift.
- Brigitte Bardot is one of them. She was considered a real ugly duckling, because she not only had an incorrect bite, but also the most unattractive appearance in the class. The girl's lower lip was protruding and she had a squint. Gradually, the strabismus was overcome, and Brigitte decided to leave the malocclusion. This made her incredibly popular all over the world.
- Amy Winehouse was also a singer who was not at all bothered by large teeth. Emmy's front incisors seem huge, so her smile was perceived ambiguously by the public. But the British performer loved to smile widely. Amy Winehouse loved to test her strength by smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol. And yet, at one fine moment, the girl thought about the health of her oral cavity and put her teeth in order.
- Keira Knightley is considered one of the most popular film actresses around the world. The actress has large incisors, and she has never tried to change her smile. On the contrary, Knightley became a fan of her own bite and showed it to the whole world without being at all embarrassed. In Hollywood, the actress is considered one of the best, so no one pays attention to Knightley’s large incisors or bite.
- Benedict Cumberbatch is another actor whom nature decided not to bestow with a beautiful smile. But he is considered one of the most popular actors in the world of the last decade. Having starred in the TV series Sherlock, he was able to win a huge audience thanks to his charisma. His smile is often compared to a crooked picket fence, his long incisors seem scary, but this does not stop Benedict from starring in films and TV series. He is a truly charismatic person, so he easily wins people over.
- Katy Perry has a very interesting take on her own smile. The world knows her as one of the most popular singers, but Katy Perry herself is not very happy with the way her teeth look. Having gained great popularity, the girl still believes that she was unlucky with her smile. However, she does not want to change what nature has given her. Katy Perry is known for her original look at her appearance, so she is not afraid to change her hair color, dyeing her hair green and even purple.
Sometimes it's beautiful
Large, healthy teeth give a person a more youthful appearance. Aesthetic features often become a calling card and a sign of individuality.
Would Hilary Swank (pictured), Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway become so popular if their smile was “like everyone else’s” - after all, it is this that gives them that piquancy and charm for which their fans love them so much.
So before you give yourself a standard smile, think - maybe it’s your imperfect teeth that are the highlight of your appearance and make you different from others.
What to eat to strengthen your teeth
Taking care of your oral cavity requires more than just a toothbrush. Nutrition plays an important role. It is no coincidence that doctors recommend giving up sugar, since bacteria that live in the mouth convert substances into acid, which negatively affects tooth enamel.
Unfortunately, many products contain sugar or sweeteners, so you won’t be able to avoid trouble. The best products for teeth are:
- cheese;
- chicken;
- meat;
- nuts;
- milk.
It is thanks to them that the enamel can be protected, as they contain important substances, including calcium and phosphorus. Calcium is practically the most important element. It is found in large quantities in fish, beets, legumes, nuts (almonds), and grapes. In Arab countries, they prefer to consume honey, and this is good for the teeth, since such a delicacy contains a lot of calcium. You can also resort to using medications. There are even some that contain calcium in combination with vitamin D.
The vitamin promotes better absorption of the substance, although it can be obtained from foods such as liver. A large amount of vitamin D contains fish oil, which is sold in any pharmacy.
Fluoride is no less important. It is he who is responsible for protecting the enamel. Thanks to fluoride, acid-resistant compounds are formed that prevent the formation of caries. It is best to buy fluoridated water, as this is the easiest way to provide the body with enough of this substance. Dairy products containing fluoride are sold on supermarket shelves. You can also buy fluoridated salt.
Diet is important for a person. It is better to choose products whose dietary fiber is quite coarse. Various dried fruits may be a good option to replace the usual sweets, but due to their high sugar content they negatively affect tooth enamel. Sweet carbonated drinks are harmful, the same goes for tea with sugar or coffee. To minimize the harmful effects of sugar, you can chew gum and brush your teeth 3 times a day.
What diet should you choose for your teeth?
It is necessary to monitor your carbohydrate intake. If you really want something sweet, it is better to choose honey, since it does not form a persistent film on the surface. Modern sweeteners are substances that are quite aggressive towards tooth enamel. Natural honey has minimal impact on the enamel.
You should include plant fiber in your food, as it helps to better clean your teeth and strengthen your gums, so you should minimize the consumption of freshly squeezed juices or grated fruits (vegetables). Coarse fiber is needed for teeth.
Acidic foods help improve salivation. It can be fruits, cabbage, broths, vegetables. You should not exclude seaweed from your diet. Saliva has anti-caries properties, washing away bacteria; moreover, it contains lysozyme, which strengthens tooth enamel.
So what to do? It may seem that it is necessary to give up many of the pleasures of life. Sweets are an antidepressant and promote the production of endorphins. Of course, you don’t need to deny yourself the consumption of sweets, but try to keep it in moderation and choose ones that contain a minimum of sugar. You can simply brush your teeth regularly for at least 3 minutes and use chewing gum after meals, chewing it thoroughly for about 10 minutes.
The largest ammonite
The largest ammonite Parapuzosia seppenradensis reaches 1.8 meters in diameter, despite the fact that the shell was not entirely preserved and during the life of the mollusk it could reach a diameter of 2.55 or even 3.5 meters, and a weight of approximately 1455 kg! This giant was discovered in Germany in 1895 in a quarry near the city of Munster.
