• Americans buy more than 14 million gallons of toothpaste every year.
  • Coconuts are a natural anti-bacterial food and can help reduce the risk of developing gum disease and cavities.
  • Halloween is the biggest candy-selling holiday, followed by Christmas, Easter, and Valentine’s Day.
  • 25% of adults DO NOT brush twice a day. This increases their risk of developing tooth decay by 33%.
  • Roughly 75% of school children worldwide have active dental cavities.
  • 48% of young adults have untagged themselves from a photo on Facebook because of their smile.
  • 90% of a bad breath smell originates in the mouth.
  • People who smoke are 2-7 times more likely to develop periodontal disease than non-smokers.
  • It was customary during the middle ages to kiss a donkey if you had a toothache.
  • Tooth enamel is the hardest structure in the human body.
  • Roughly 25% of American adults have no teeth.
  • The average human being produces 100,000 gallons of saliva during their lifetime.
  • Tooth decay is the second most common disease, second only to the common cold.
  • People prefer blue toothbrushes to red ones.
  • Teeth start to form before we are born.
  • Almost 65 million American adults have some form of periodontal disease. Of this number 38.4% are women, 56.4% are men.
  • Expectant mothers with poor oral hygiene are 7X more likely to deliver premature and low birth weight babies.
  • 95% of American adults with diabetes also have periodontal disease.
  • People with periodontal disease are 2X more likely to develop heart disease.
  • People who drink 3 or more cans of pop daily have 62% more tooth decay, fillings, and tooth loss than people that don’t drink pop.
  • The first toothbrush with bristles was made in China in 1498. Bristles from hogs, horses, and badgers were used.
  • Replacing a toothbrush after illnesses helps prevent the potential for re-infection.
  • It takes 43 muscles to frown. It only takes 17 to smile.
  • 61% of adults are attracted to somebody by their smile alone.
  • An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but it also makes you 3X more likely to develop dental decay.
  • Kids miss 51 million school hours a year due to dental related illnesses.
  • By drinking one can of soda daily, the average American gains 15 lbs each year.
  • The human tongue is as unique as a fingerprint. No two people have the same tongue print.
  • There are more bacteria in the human mouth than there are people on the Earth.
  • The average woman smiles 62 time a day. The average man? Only 8 times.
  • Kids laugh roughly 400 times a day. The average adult laughs only 15 times per day.
  • In North America, over 3 million miles of dental floss are purchased annually.
  • Dinosaurs grew new teeth when one was lost or broken.
  • A fossilized T-Rex tooth can weigh up to a pound.
  • In 200 A.D., the Romans used a mixture of bones, eggshells, oyster shells, and honey to clean their teeth.
  • A snail’s mouth is no larger than the head of a pin, yet it can contain over 25,000 teeth.
  • A single can of soda contains 10-12 teaspoons of sugar. The recommended daily dietary intake of sugar is 4 teaspoons.
  • In 1994, a West Virginia prison inmate braided dental floss into a rope, scaled the wall, and escaped!
  • According to a recent survey by Time magazine, 59% of people would rather have a dental appointment than sit next to someone who is talking on a cell phone.
  • In the 1800s, blacksmiths and barbers also served as dentists.
  • Toothpicks are the object most often choked on by Americans.
  • The stone-faced farmer in artist Grant Wood’s famous “American Gothic” painting was actually the artist’s dentist.
  • Sports-related injuries account for approximately 5 million missing teeth per year.
  • Americans spend $100 billion a year on hair care products, and only $2 billion a year on dental care products.
  • Contrary to popular belief, George Washington’s famous dentures were not made from wood. His four pairs of custom choppers were crafted from gold, ivory, lead, and a mixture of human, donkey, and hippopotamus teeth.
  • The cotton candy making machine that made widely consumed cotton candy possible was co-invented by a dentist. Before it was cotton candy, the fluffy confection was called “fairy floss.”
  • The saying “cat got your tongue” originated 2500 years ago in ancient Assyria where conquered soldiers and criminals had their tongues cut out and fed to the king’s cats.
  • Cavities in teeth have been filled since the earliest of times with a variety of different materials, including gum, stone chips, and even turpentine resin.
  • The lifespan of a taste bud is about 10 days. The five known tastes detected by taste buds are: bitter, sour, salty, sweet, and umami. Umami was identified in 1908 by a Japanese research and the chemical responsible for it is monosodium glutamate.
  • 60% of people don’t known that a sore jaw, when combined with chest pain, can signal a heart attack – especially in women.
  • Every year, kids in North America spend close to half a billion dollars on chewing gum.
  • The average toothbrush contains about 2500 bristles grouped into about 40 tufts per toothbrush. The tufts are folded over a metal staple and forced into pre-cored holes in the head and fused into the head with heat. The handle is made of at least two materials, usually plastic and rubber. The grips used for the handle are: precision, power, spoon, oblique, and distal oblique.
  • 90% of system diseases have oral manifestations.
  • The most valuable tooth belonged to Sir Isaac Newton. In 1816, one of his teeth was sold in London for $3,633.00, or in today’s terms, $35,700.00. The tooth was set in a ring.
  • Americans spent $25 billion on candy in 2010. That is more than the gross national products of Lithuania, Costa Rica, and Mozambique combined.
  • Sugar Facts: Chemical manufacturers use sugar to grow penicillin. A teaspoon of sugar after a hot curry with extinguish the furnace in your mouth. A spoonful of sugar added to a vase will prolong the life of freshly cut flowers.
  • In the 1800s, people who had false teeth in England ate in their bedrooms before gatherings and events at the dinner table. This unique Victorian tradition protected them against the embarrassment of having their teeth ‘fall off’ while dining.
  • Dolphins use their teeth to grab only, not to chew, as dolphins’ jaws have no muscles.
  • Mosquitoes have 47 teeth.
  • In 1905, dental assistant Irene Newman was trained to clean teeth. She became the first dental hygienist.
  • Not too long ago, dentures were common wedding gifts in the British Isles. At that time, many people expected to lose all their teeth and had their teeth extracted at an early age.
  • In colonial days, debtors were shipped from Europe to America to work as servants. Instead of signing a contract, they sealed their agreement by leaving their dental imprint in wax.

More on Smiles By Design

Dentist in Syracuse, NY

Finding the right dentist in Syracuse, NY is about more than choosing a practice close to home. It's about finding a team that takes the time to understand your needs, explains your treatment options clearly, and provides high-quality dental care in a welcoming, comfortable environment. At Smiles By Design, we're proud to provide comprehensive family dental care for children, teens, adults, and seniors, helping patients throughout Syracuse achieve healthy, confident smiles at every stage of life.

Whether you're visiting for a routine dental exam, looking to replace missing teeth with dental implants, or seeking cosmetic treatments to enhance your smile, our experienced team is here to provide personalized care using modern techniques and advanced dental technology. We believe every patient deserves individual attention, and we work closely with you to develop a treatment plan that suits your oral health goals, lifestyle, and budget.

Comprehensive Dental Care 

As a leading dentist in Syracuse, NY, we provide a complete range of preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and surgical dental services under one roof. This allows our patients to receive consistent care from a team they know and trust, without the need for multiple referrals.

Whether you're scheduling routine care for your family, maintaining your own oral health, or exploring options to restore your smile, we're committed to providing personalized care that supports long-term oral health.

Wellness Dentistry

Preventive care forms the foundation of a healthy smile. Regular visits allow us to identify small concerns before they become larger problems, helping you maintain healthy teeth and gums while avoiding more extensive treatment in the future. We provide preventive dental care for families, helping both children and adults maintain healthy smiles through regular examinations, hygiene appointments, and early diagnosis of dental concerns.

Our family dentistry services include:

  • Dental Exams
  • Dental X-Rays
  • Dental Hygiene
  • Oral Cancer Screening
  • Gum Disease Treatment
  • Diagnosis and treatment of Cavities

Routine dental examinations allow us to monitor your oral health closely, while professional dental hygiene appointments remove plaque and tartar that brushing and flossing alone cannot eliminate. Digital dental X-rays help us identify issues beneath the surface, ensuring nothing goes unnoticed.

We also perform comprehensive oral cancer screenings during routine appointments, allowing for early detection of abnormalities when treatment is often most successful. If signs of gum disease are identified, our team provides personalized gum disease treatment designed to restore healthy gums and prevent further damage.

Restorative Dentistry

Damaged, worn, or missing teeth can affect far more than your appearance. They can impact your ability to eat comfortably, speak clearly, and maintain proper oral health. Our restorative dentistry services are designed to rebuild both the function and appearance of your smile using durable, natural-looking materials.

Our restorative treatments include:

Dental implants remain one of the most predictable and long-lasting solutions for replacing missing teeth. By replacing the tooth root as well as the visible tooth, implants help preserve jawbone health while restoring natural function and aesthetics.

Dental crowns strengthen weakened or damaged teeth, protecting them from further fracture while restoring their natural appearance. For patients missing one or more teeth, custom dental bridges provide an effective solution to close gaps and restore chewing function.

We also offer metal-free fillings, allowing patients to restore cavities with tooth-coloured materials that blend seamlessly with the surrounding teeth. For patients requiring a full-arch restoration, TeethXpress® offers an efficient solution that combines implant technology with a fixed, functional smile.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Feeling confident about your smile can have a positive impact on both your personal and professional life. Our cosmetic dentistry treatments are designed to enhance the appearance of your teeth while maintaining a natural, balanced result.

Whether you're looking to brighten discoloured teeth, improve symmetry, or refresh your overall smile, we'll work with you to develop a treatment plan tailored to your goals. We take a conservative approach to cosmetic dentistry, focusing on results that complement your natural facial features rather than creating an artificial appearance.

Every smile is unique, and we believe cosmetic dentistry should reflect that individuality.

Oral Surgery

Some dental conditions require surgical treatment to restore oral health or relieve discomfort. Our experienced team provides oral surgery in a caring, supportive environment, ensuring every patient feels informed and comfortable throughout treatment.

Our oral surgery services include:

Whether a tooth has become severely damaged, infected, or cannot be restored, we'll carefully assess your options before recommending extraction. If a tooth does need to be removed, we'll also discuss suitable replacement options to maintain the health and function of your smile.

Treatment for Common Dental Conditions

Maintaining healthy gums is just as important as caring for your teeth. We diagnose and treat a range of common dental conditions, including:

  • Gingivitis

As the earliest stage of gum disease, gingivitis is often reversible when treated promptly. Our team provides thorough assessments, professional cleanings, and personalised home care guidance to help restore healthy gums and prevent progression to more advanced periodontal disease.

A Patient-Centred Approach to Dentistry

At Smiles By Design, we understand that every patient has different concerns, goals, and expectations. That's why we never believe in one-size-fits-all dentistry. We take the time to listen, answer your questions, and explain every treatment option so you can make informed decisions about your care.

Our team is committed to creating a relaxed, welcoming environment where patients feel comfortable throughout every visit. Whether you're returning for a routine cleaning or visiting us for more complex treatment, you can expect compassionate care, clear communication, and attention to detail from start to finish.

We continually invest in modern dental technology and ongoing education to ensure we're providing efficient, comfortable treatment using proven techniques and high-quality materials.

Your Dentist in Syracuse, NY

If you're searching for a dentist in Syracuse, NY, Smiles By Design is here to provide the comprehensive dental care you and your family deserve. From preventive check-ups and gum disease treatment to dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, restorative care, and oral surgery, we offer everything you need to maintain a healthy, confident smile in one convenient location.

Our goal is to build lasting relationships with every patient by providing exceptional dental care in a friendly, professional setting. Whether you need routine maintenance or a complete smile restoration, we're here to help you achieve long-term oral health with treatment that's tailored specifically to you.

Contact Smiles By Design today to schedule your appointment and experience the difference personalized dental care can make. If you're looking for a trusted dentist in Syracuse, NY, our team looks forward to welcoming you to our practice.