Your eight incisor teeth are located in the front part of your mouth. You have four of them in your upper jaw and four in your lower jaw.
Incisors are shaped like small chisels. They have sharp edges that help you bite into food. Whenever you sink your teeth into something, such as an apple, you use your incisor teeth.
Incisors are usually the first set of teeth to erupt, appearing at about 6 months old.
Your 12 molars are your biggest and strongest teeth. You have six on the top and six on the bottom. The main eight molars are sometimes divided into your 6-year and 12-year molars, based on when they typically grow in.
The large surface area of your molars helps them grind up food. When you eat, your tongue pushes food to the back of your mouth. Then, your molars break up the food into pieces small enough for you to swallow.
The molars include four wisdom teeth, which are the last set of teeth to come in. They usually come in between the ages of 17 and 25. Wisdom teeth are also called third molars.
Not everyone has enough room in their mouth for this last group of teeth. Sometimes, the wisdom teeth are impacted, meaning they’re stuck under the gums. This means they don’t have space to grow. If you don’t have room for your wisdom teeth, you’ll likely have to have them removed.
The bottom line
Your 32 teeth are essential for biting and grinding food. You also need your teeth to speak clearly. While your teeth are solidly built, they won’t last a lifetime unless you take good care of them.
To keep your teeth in good shape, floss and brush regularly, and follow up with professional dental cleanings every six months. What are canines?
Your four canine teeth sit next to the incisors. You have two canines on the top of your mouth and two on the bottom.
Canines have a sharp, pointy surface for tearing food.
The first baby canines come in between the ages of 16 months and 20 months. The upper canines grow in first, followed by the lower canines.
Lower adult canines emerge in the opposite way. First, the lower canines poke through the gums around age 9, then the upper canines come in at age 11 or 12.
What are premolars?
Your eight premolars sit next to your canines. There are four premolars on top and four on the bottom.
Premolars are bigger than canines and incisors. They have a flat surface with ridges for crushing and grinding food into smaller pieces to make it easier to swallow.
Baby molar teeth are replaced by adult premolars. Infants and young children don’t have Other Important Facts About Your Molars
Like premolars, molars function to chewing food and to maintain the height of the face.
As your molars are located in the deep corners of your mouth, the molars tend to be overlooked when brushing teeth. Hence, molars are more vulnerable than other types of teeth to tooth decay. Make a conscious effort to show your molars some love when you brush your teeth! We use our teeth on a daily basis, and yet, like most other bodily functions, we do not pay close attention to them.
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