If you think brushing and flossing your teeth well is challenging sometimes, imagine T-Rex teeth! Maintaining the pearly whites of the king of dinosaurs? Now, that’s a challenge! Have some fun with your Innovative Pediatric Dentistry team and imagine some of the unique challenges and solutions that would come with keeping T-Rex teeth sparkling clean.
Scientists say that the T-Rex had the biggest teeth of all the dinosaurs — we’re talking dino teeth as long as bananas! Think about finding a toothbrush for those chompers! Our suggestion? Skip the oral care aisle at the store and head to the cleaning supplies section instead; you’d need something like a floor scrub brush with a long handle instead of a traditional toothbrush.
And how hard or soft a toothbrush? For human teeth, your pediatric dentists at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry typically suggest a soft-bristled toothbrush that’s gentle on gums but tough on plaque. But our prehistoric pal might need bristles with more scrubbing power. And toothpaste? Maybe a whole tube’s worth in one go for those dino teeth. For you, a pea-sized amount is plenty. And forget your usual two-minute brushing time; with a T-Rex, you’ll likely need a good 20 minutes to brush its 50-60 teeth!
So you’ve got your giant scrub brush/toothbrush, toothpaste… and patience. Given a T-Rex’s massive jaw and height, reaching all of its teeth is the next challenge. Standing upright, an average-sized T-Rex was about 21 feet tall, so you’d need scaffolding to access those dino teeth. And, of course, safety would be key — you wouldn’t want to slip and fall into a T-Rex’s mouth!
Once you can reach those dinosaur teeth, what would brushing those T-Rex teeth look like? Use the same technique for dino dental care as you would for brushing your teeth, just on a bigger scale. Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Gently move it back and forth in short, tooth-wide strokes. Brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of those giant dino teeth.
As predators, T-Rexes weren’t munching on salads; they were feasting on other dinosaurs. Such a carnivorous diet would lead to dental dilemmas like meat getting stuck between teeth. Food debris could lead to tooth decay or gingivitis without proper flossing. Flossing a T-Rex’s teeth would be crucial to good dinosaur dental care, just as it’s crucial for our teeth. It helps remove food particles and plaque between the teeth and under the gum line, which a toothbrush can’t reach.
Make flossing teeth a daily habit for you and your dino pal. A T-Rex might need a rope to clean effectively between those giant teeth — grab a brave friend to help pull that rope back and forth like a game of tug-o-war and up-and-down in a C-shape around each tooth. As for your own teeth, use the same flossing technique but with human-sized dental floss, of course!
On top of brushing and flossing teeth, dinosaur dental care (and your own!) should include cleaning the tongue. After all, the tongue can have a layer of bacteria that leads to stinky breath. We can only imagine what a T-Rex’s breath would be like! Ew. Similarly, the human tongue can harbor bacteria and food particles that contribute to bad breath, so give the tongue a gentle brush or gently use a tongue scraper to help remove plaque. Brush the tongue from front to back and side to side, then rinse with water.
Finally, even a T-Rex would need to see a dentist (a brave one, for sure) for regular check-ups and professional cleaning. Regular dental visits are essential for maintaining excellent oral health. A dentist can spot problems early and offer suggestions or treatment for your dental needs. And a professional cleaning with special tools cleans any tartar build-up on the teeth and gum line and helps prevent tooth decay.
Keeping a T-Rex’s teeth clean would be an epically fun and zany challenge, that’s for sure. At Innovative Pediatric Dentistry, we approach dentistry for kids in the same spirit of fun and imagination. Our Naperville, IL, office is bright and welcoming, with a movie room, charging stations, toys, and games. And by pairing the latest technology with kid-focused care, families experience dino-mite pediatric dental care designed with efficiency and kid comfort in mind.
Give us a shout to book your child’s next cleaning and check-up!
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