A mouthful of facts

What does the tongue say about you? 12 clues hidden in our mouth!

Credit: Clem Onojeghuo

Our mouths do so much more than help us chat, chew, and chuckle. This hardworking part of the body is home to a whole host of weird, wonderful, and sometimes wacky facts. From surprising saliva stats to your teeth’s secret life, a lot is going on behind your smile. And the best part? You don’t need a medical degree to appreciate these bite-sized bits of trivia. Let’s sink our teeth into some fascinating mouth facts!

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Taste buds are important, but without saliva, your taste buds wouldn't be able to detect much of anything. Saliva helps break down food particles and dissolve the chemicals that make up flavors, sending them to your taste receptors. That’s why food tastes bland when you're dehydrated. Hydration equals better flavor!

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Believe it or not, the inside of your mouth is teeming with life. Wanna hear the numbers? Around 8 billion bacteria live there! That’s roughly the population of the entire planet, all crammed into your smile.

Most of these microbes are harmless, and some are even helpful. But when they get out of balance, that’s when things like cavities and gum disease can set in. Brushing and flossing aren’t just cosmetic, they help keep the peace in this microscopic community.

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This might surprise you, but skipping floss can affect more than just your gums. Studies have shown a strong link between poor oral health and major diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and even osteoporosis.

Inflammation from gum disease may contribute to problems in other parts of your body. Your mouth is like a window into your overall health, and red flags here could signal trouble elsewhere. Keep the dental checkups going! Your whole body benefits when your mouth is in top shape.

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Taking a dip in the pool is refreshing, but make sure you keep your mouth closed. Chlorine, used to disinfect pool water, can be tough on your teeth.

Frequent exposure may weaken enamel and lead to increased tooth sensitivity. That means swimmers, especially those doing laps daily, should be extra cautious. If you’re one of them, just know rinsing with clean water after a swim can help wash away any residue.

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Plaque isn’t just a little fuzzy feeling on your teeth, it’s a mix of bacteria, food particles, and saliva. If left alone, it hardens into tartar, which only a dentist can remove.

Plaque is the main cause of gum disease and cavities. Brushing twice a day and flossing help kick it to the curb. Mouthwash can give an extra layer of protection, too.

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Of all the muscles in your body, the tongue is the only one that doesn’t need skeletal support to do its job. It’s a muscular marvel that helps with speaking, swallowing, and tasting. Despite its flexibility, it’s incredibly strong for its size.

Plus, no two tongues are the same; each has a unique print, just like fingerprints. Bet you didn’t know your tongue was such a multitasker!

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You might only see the top two-thirds of your teeth, but the rest is hiding below the gumline. That hidden portion includes the roots, which anchor your teeth in place. Healthy gums are essential for keeping this foundation strong.

Gum disease can cause that support to weaken, leading to tooth loss over time. So yes, we said it one too many times, but flossing is about way more than fresh breath. A deep clean leads to a deep-rooted smile.

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Green tea is full of powerful antioxidants and natural antibacterial agents. These can help reduce inflammation in your gums and keep harmful bacteria at bay. Studies suggest it may even lower your risk of periodontal disease.

Unlike sugary drinks, it doesn’t feed the bacteria that cause decay. And it’s a pretty soothing way to wind down after a meal. Swap one of your daily cups of joe for green tea, and your mouth will thank you.

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You’ve got about 10,000 taste buds scattered around your mouth, but most live on your tongue. They detect sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami flavors, working together like a culinary orchestra.

Now, here’s the fascinating fact: Taste buds regenerate every 10 to 14 days, so you’re always getting a fresh batch. However, aging, smoking, and illness can dull your sense of taste over time.

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Just like fingerprints, no two people have the exact same set of teeth. Their size, shape, alignment, and even bite pattern are all uniquely yours. That’s why dental records are so helpful in forensics.

Your teeth are part of your identity, and once you lose them, they don’t grow back. Protecting them is a lifelong investment!

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Get ready for this one: The average person produces over 37,000 liters of saliva in a lifetime. That’s enough to fill two entire swimming pools!

Saliva plays a vital role in digestion, taste, and keeping your mouth clean. It helps neutralize acids and wash away food particles, protecting against decay. Without it, your mouth would be a desert. Yes, this fact was kind of gross, but equally helpful!

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Over the course of a lifetime, the average person spends 38.5 days brushing their teeth. That’s more than a month with nothing but you, your toothbrush, and the mirror.

It may sound like a lot, but your smile’s worth every second, don’t you think? Regular brushing keeps plaque away, prevents bad breath, and saves you from future dental bills. Just keep brushing, you’re doing mouth maintenance like a pro!

Which one did you use?

Do you remember these 12 symbols used to text emotions before emojis?

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Before emojis became as ubiquitous as they are on our screens, people still found clever ways to express emotions in their texts and emails. Using only punctuation marks, letters, and numbers, they created little faces and symbols to laugh, wink, cry, or even roll their eyes. Let’s take a look back at 12 of the most popular ones that were used before emojis existed.

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Let’s begin with the most classic one—the smile. This was one of the earliest and most universal ways to express happiness online. Made with just a colon and a parenthesis, it was quick, simple, and instantly recognizable.

Before emojis, typing ":)" was a go-to way to show happiness and friendliness in a message. It worked everywhere: emails, chats, and message boards.

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The frown was one of the most common text symbols for showing disappointment or sadness. With only two characters, it simply flipped the cheeriness of the smiley into a downturned mood.

It appeared in countless emails and texts, letting the other person know you weren’t feeling great—or that the news you were sharing wasn’t, either.

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Adding a semicolon and dash turned a regular smile into a playful wink. It was perfect for signaling humor, teasing, or letting someone know that a message shouldn’t be taken too seriously.

In the days before GIFs, a winky face kept the tone light and helped prevent misunderstandings in written conversations.

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A colon, dash, and capital D created a wide grin that expressed big laughter or pure excitement in a way a simple smile couldn’t match.

People used it in friendly chats, jokes, or when reacting to good news—anytime a regular smile just wasn’t enough.

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The crying face combined a frown with an apostrophe for a teardrop, making it perfect for expressing sadness or sympathy.

Whether used to show genuine grief or playful exaggeration, it added an emotional punch to a simple text message or email.

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A colon, dash, and capital P made a face sticking out its tongue. It was cheeky, silly, and perfect for showing that something was meant as a joke.

It often followed playful teasing or sarcastic remarks, making sure the message came across as fun rather than rude.

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A less-than sign and the number 3 created a sideways heart, symbolizing love, affection, or appreciation. It became one of the most widely used pre-emoji symbols.

People added it to messages for friends, partners, or any situation where they wanted to express love or affection.

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This wide-eyed look used capital O’s for eyes and an underscore for the mouth, showing shock, surprise, or disbelief.

It was a favorite in online chats whenever something unexpected or outrageous happened.

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This symbol, which came from Japanese kaomoji culture, showed a cheerful, blushing expression, with carets for smiling eyes and an underscore for the mouth.

It carried a soft, cute tone and often appeared in friendly or supportive conversations.

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This expression showed frustration, pain, or embarrassment. The greater-than and less-than signs formed squinting eyes, with an underscore for the mouth.

It was a versatile way to convey everything from mild annoyance to mock agony in messages.