Your teeth work together a lot like a baseball team. Each one has a specific job and they all work towards a common goal. When it comes to your teeth, they all play an important role in helping you speak and eat normally. Have you ever thought about why you have so many different kinds of teeth? What is each one supposed to accomplish? Dr. Lance Anderson, your family dentist in Lovell, is going to tell you some interesting facts about all of your teeth.
Incisors
The teeth that probably show whenever you smile are called the incisors. They are the sharp, chisel-shaped teeth at the front of the mouth that enable you to bite into food. You have 4 top incisors and 4 on the bottom. They also help you pronounce words (such as “top”) and support your lips.
Canines
You have 1 canine tooth on both sides of your upper and lower incisors, totaling 4. These are also called cuspids. They serve two main purposes. Firstly, they help you grasp food when you chew, and are essential to your ability to eat meat and fibrous fruits and vegetables. The second purpose is that they help guide your teeth together whenever you close your jaw, working like interlocking puzzle-pieces with each other.
Premolars
As we move farther back into the mouth, we come to the premolars, which dentists also call bicuspids. They have a flatter top than canines and help you crush and chew food, as well as maintain the spacing of your jaw. You should have 2 on each side of your top and bottom teeth, totaling 8.
Molars
Your back teeth are shaped wide and flat, helping you to grind and chew food right before you swallow. The tops of these teeth are very rough and uneven to facilitate this process. Most adults have 3 on each side of their top and bottom teeth, totaling 12. However, many people are not developing their third set of molars, known as the wisdom teeth. These often have to be removed in order to avoid issues like crowding.
That’s All of Them!
This is the lineup of your 32 (or 28) adult teeth. Each one serves an important purpose, and you use them all every day. This is why you should be sure to brush, floss, and definitely visit Lovell Dental regularly to keep them clean. The back teeth, for example, have entirely too many small surfaces for you to reach on your own at home, and that’s where a dental cleaning from one of our team can help. Now that you know a little more about all of your teeth, hopefully you’ll notice how you use them next time you eat or speak.
This article was interesting! Can I get more of this kind of information from the dentist near me? Of course! If you have any other questions about your teeth or how to keep them healthy, please give us a call today.