Your 32 teeth are essential for biting and grinding up food. You also need your teeth to help you speak clearly. While your teeth are solidly built.
Your teeth do the main jobs: Apart from been the strongest parts in the body, it serves as aesthetics purposes, helps in speech and helps you chew food.
What Are The Different Parts Of A Tooth?
Each tooth has several distinct parts; here is an overview of each part:
- Enamel – this is the physical and hardest part of the tooth that has the most mineralized tissue in the body. Teeth can be damaged by dental caries if you don't practice good oral hygiene.
- Dentin – this is the layer of the tooth under the enamel. If dental caries goes beyond the enamel, it next affects the dentin — where a lot — if not millions of tiny tubes are located and lead directly to the dental pulp.
- Pulp – this is the soft tissue located in the center of all teeth, where the nerve tissue and blood vessels are seen or present. If cavities and tooth decay gets to the pulp, you usually feel pain and may require a root canal procedure
- Cementum: this is the layer of connective tissue that join the roots of the teeth firmly to the gums and jawbone.
- Periodontal ligament: this tissue helps to hold the teeth tightly against the jaw. A normal adult mouth has 32 teeth, which (except for wisdom teeth) have erupted by about age 13.
The crown of each tooth projects into the mouth. The root of each tooth descends below the gum line, into the jaw.
What are the names of your teeth?
Most adults have 32 teeth, called permanent or secondary teeth:- 8 incisors
- 4 canines, also called cuspids
- 8 premolars, also called bicuspids
- 12 molars, including 4 wisdom teeth:
Children have just 20 teeth, called primary, temporary, or milk teeth. They include the same 10 teeth in the upper and lower jaw:
- 4 incisors
- 2 canines
- 4 molars
Primary teeth start to erupt through the gums when a baby is about 6 months old. The lower incisors are usually the first primary teeth to come in. Most kids have all 20 of their primary teeth by age 3.
Children usually lose their primary teeth between the ages of 6 and 12. They’re then replaced by permanent teeth. Molars are usually the first permanent teeth to come in. Most people have all of their permanent teeth in place by age 21.
Keep reading to learn more about the different types of teeth, including their shape and function.
What are Four types of teeth?
There are four main types of teeth, and each one has a different shape and function.
The four main types of teeth are:
- Incisors - Everyone incisors are eight teeth in the front center of your mouth (four on both upper and lower). These are typically the first adult teeth that your child will get, coming in when your child is between six and eight years old. Incisors are the teeth you will see coming in and use to bite into your food.
- Canines - Your child's canines are the next teeth that develop in their mouth. You have four of them and they are the sharpest teeth, used for tearing apart food.
- Premolars - Premolars are used for tearing and chewing food. Unlike your incisors and canines, premolars have a flat biting surface. You have eight premolars in total.
- Molars - Your molars are your largest teeth. Their function is similar to that of the premolars, to grind, tear, and chew food. Molars have a large flat biting surface which makes them perfect for all.
Teeth Conditions
- Cavities (caries): Bacteria evade removal by brushing and saliva and damage the enamel and deeper structures of teeth. Most cavities occur on molars and premolars.
- Tooth decay: A general name for the disease of the teeth, including cavities.
- Periodontitis: Inflammation of the deeper structures of the teeth (periodontal ligament, jawbone, and cementum). Poor oral hygiene is usually the cause.
- Gingivitis: Inflammation of the surface portion of the gums, around and between the crowns of the teeth. Plaque and tartar buildup can lead to gingivitis.
- Plaque: A sticky, colorless film made of bacteria and the substances they secrete. Plaque develops very fast on teeth after eating sugary food but can be easily brushed off.
- Tartar: If plaque is not removed, it mixes with minerals to become a harder substance that forms tartar. Tartar requires scaling and polishing a professional cleaning that can be performed by a dental hygienist or dentist for removal.
- Overbite: The upper teeth protrude significantly over the lower teeth.
- Underbite: The lower teeth protrude significantly past the upper teeth.
- Teeth grinding (bruxism): Stress, anxiety, or sleep disorders can cause teeth grinding, usually during sleep. A dull headache or sore jaw can be symptoms.
- Tooth sensitivity: sensitivity occur on one or more teeth as a result of exposed dentin and become sensitive to hot or cold too.
Teeth Tests
- Teeth X-ray films: The purpose of Dental X-ray films or pictures of the teeth is to detect cavities below the gum line, or that are too small to identify.
- Teeth examination: Also called oral diagnosis is by viewing and gently tapping the teeth, a dentist can detect potential teeth problems.
Teeth Treatments
- Brushing teeth: Daily brushing of the teeth removes plaque and helps prevent cavities.
- Flossing teeth: Using floss or an approved dental gum cleaner cleans teeth below the gum line, where brushing cannot reach.
- Rinsing teeth: Rinsing daily with an antiseptic mouthwash kills bacteria that cause bad breath and gum disease.
- Teeth cleaning: Professional teeth cleaning every six months may help prevent teeth and gum disease.
- Tooth filling: Drilling out the diseased part of a tooth and packing the space with a mineral filling can prevent a cavity from destroying the tooth.
- Root canal: The deep pulp of a tooth is drilled out, cleaned, and filled. A root canal is done when damage to the teeth has affected the deep pulp.
- Tooth extraction: If a tooth is too damaged to repair with a filling or root canal, it may be removed. Wisdom teeth are often extracted to prevent displacement of the other teeth.
- Braces: An artificial device or system that places teeth under tension for a long period of time. Eventually, braces can help crooked teeth become realigned.
- Mouth guard: A plastic mouthpiece can provide protection from teeth grinding and injury during sports.
- Dental sealants: A plastic sealant applied to the teeth can help block bacteria from hiding in crevices on teeth surfaces. Sealants can help prevent cavities.
- Teeth whitening: Over-the-counter and professional chemical treatments can bleach teeth to a brighter white. Tooth sensitivity is the most common side effect.
What causes teeth problems?
Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease or gum problem, an infection of the tissues around your teeth caused by plaque. If you have gingivitis, your gums may become red, swollen and bleed easily. You may also experience bad breath. Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it.
You are more likely to develop gum problems if you skip brushing and flossing, use tobacco, have crooked teeth that are hard to keep clean, are pregnant, have diabetes or take certain medications. When in its early stages, the disease is still reversible and your gums can be returned to good health with a professional cleaning from your dentist, along with daily brushing and flossing.
Take away
Your 32 teeth are essential for biting and grinding up food. You also need your teeth to help you speak clearly. While your teeth are solidly built, they won’t last a lifetime unless you Practice good oral hygiene
To keep your teeth in good shape, floss and brush regularly, and follow up with professional dental cleanings every six months.
Credit Sources
- WebMD Health - "oral health picture of the teeth"
- Healthline - "teeth names"
- Mouth healthy organization - "what dental issues look like"
- Colgate - "mouth and teeth anatomy/how to build strong teeth"
- Rideau dental center - "the four types of teeth and their functions in your mouth"
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