Types of teeth
Whenever we refer to the mouth, we refer to the lips, the teeth, the inner cheeks, the gums, and the tongue. The mouth of ours is responsible for more things than we give it credit for.
- It helps us smile.
- Along with the jaws, it gives our face its structure.
- It enables us to speak.
- It helps us chew and shallow, thus eat.
- It equips us with expressions.
- And, it helps us kiss!
In today’s post, I will share information about one of the most integral part of the mouth – the teeth. What else can the dentists be obsessed with?
The 32 teeth that adults have are classified under four different categories:
- Incisors: These are also known as the cutting teeth. If you divide the mouth into four quadrants: right upper jaw, left upper jaw, right lower jaw, and left lower jaw, we have two incisors in each quadrants, totaling to eight. These teeth are very sharp and usually used to bite into food. These are the most visible teeth of all, building your smile.
- Canines: Each quadrant has one canine, making it a total of four. Canine teeth are conical in shape and very strong. If you have ever used your teeth to tear off something, you must have used one of these teeth. The canines are the immediate neighbors of incisors. These stand out from the rest of the teeth in the mouth because they appear a little taller than others.
- Pre-molars: There are eight pre-molars in our mouth, two in each quadrant. They are located immediately after the canines. These teeth help in chewing our food.
- Molars: There are three molars in each quadrant of our mouth. The molars complete the chewing process before the food is swallowed and passed down into the body. The molars are the last teeth to come into the mouth. The molars are the strongest of all teeth. These teeth are recognizable because of their width.
While all the four types of teeth have different functions, they are all prone to plaque and decay. Thus, apart from following a proper dental care routine at home, visit your dentist once every six months.
Happy smiling!
