Rare Facts That Dentists Won't Ever Tell Their Patients

Ever wonder why dentists ask questions while their hands are in our mouths? What about what can happen if you pull out your own tooth? Well, you're in luck because dentists are spilling the secrets they've learned from experience on the other side of the chair — and the details they're revealing to patients are appropriately jaw-dropping.

1. Their small talk serves a purpose

Why do dentists like to talk to you while they’re poking and prodding around your mouth? Well, it’s not to make you feel uncomfortable, though that’s often the unintended result. Actually, they engage in chitchat to keep our minds off what’s going on — a relief to many nervous patients.

2. Not everyone numbs the same

One major secret dentists can admit: not everyone numbs easily. While numbing someone for a painful dental procedure is presumed easy, it isn’t always a simple task. In fact, if you’re consistently hard to dose with a local anesthetic, it might come down to “fatty tissue.” As dentist Eran Gutckin told Mental Floss in 2016, “Nerve tissue is fatty tissue." So those with more fatty tissue sometimes take a little longer for the aesthetic to take effect.

3. We should spend more time brushing

Somewhere along the line, it became widely accepted to brush your teeth for just two minutes. But dentists say putting in an extra few minutes of oral hygiene each day is worth it. As Joel Slaven, DDS suggested to Healthline, we should aim for around ten minutes of tooth care every day.

4. Redheads have a reputation

Apparently, people with red hair are genetically predisposed to feel pain more intensely than others, which can make it difficult to numb them up before a dental procedure. And, weirdly enough, going to the dentist without eating first may also lead to more discomfort during the examination or procedure.