It would take more than 28 million individual bites to chew the length of the Great Australian Bight, according to Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV).
“The width of a large adult mouth is approximately 41 millimetres,” said DHSV Chief Executive Officer Dr Deborah Cole, “and the Great Australian Bight stretches 1,160 kilometres from Cape Pasley in Western Australia to Cape Carnot in South Australia.”
“To chew something that size would take 28,292,683 individual bites.
“So even if every single person in Australia took a bite of the Bight, there would be ‘boundless plains to share’,” said Dr Cole.
Dr Deborah Cole said she would advise against biting the Australian coastline, and recommends that people instead celebrate Australia day with a wide variety fresh fruit and vegetables.
“Eat well by enjoying a range of nutritious foods, drink fluoridated tap water instead of soft drinks and juices, and brush twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste,” said Dr Cole.
Dental Health Services Victoria is the state government’s leading oral health agency. The organisation aims to improve the oral health of all Victorians – particularly vulnerable groups and those most in need – by providing quality oral healthcare through The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne and 57 other community health agencies across Victoria.
Media enquiries and interview requests: Cameron Jackson, cameron.jackson@dhsv.org.au, (03) 9341 1361.