- There are 32 teeth in a complete set of adult teeth.
- There are several parts to each tooth. The crown of the tooth is the part that can be seen above the gum. The crown of each tooth is covered with enamel, which is a hard substance that protects the tooth. Underneath the enamel is the dentin, which makes up the biggest part of the tooth. It is also very hard and it protects the pulp of the tooth. Blood vessels and nerve endings are found in the pulp of the tooth.
- The pulp goes way down into the root of the tooth, which can be found under the gum. Cementum is the substance that makes up the root. The root of the tooth anchors itself into the jawbone to keep the teeth firmly in place.
- The two front teeth and the teeth on either side are called incisors. The incisors are used to cut and chop food. The adult mouth has eight incisors, four on the top and four on the bottom.
- Next to the incisors are the canine teeth. There are four canines, two on the top and two on the bottom. These are the teeth that help tear food.
- Next to the canine teeth are the bicuspids. There are eight bicuspids, four on the top and four on the bottom. These teeth are stronger and bigger than the incisors and canines. They are used to grind and crush food.
- The molars can be found in the back of the mouth. There are eight molars, four on the top and four on the bottom. Molars are the strongest of all the teeth. They grind and mash food until it can be easily swallowed.
- When a person reaches about 17 years old, the wisdom teeth begin coming in. There are four wisdom teeth, two on the top and two on the bottom. The wisdom teeth are found at the back of the mouth. They are the last teeth in the row of teeth. The wisdom teeth aren’t really used for anything. They can be difficult to brush and floss and sometimes cause people problems. Because of this they are sometimes removed. They are called wisdom teeth, because people don’t get them until they are older and wiser.
- You get 2 sets of teeth in your lifetime. The first set is your baby teeth. You will start to lose your baby teeth at around 6-7 years of age. By the time your 21 years old, you will only have permanent teeth.
- Oral health is often a window to overall health. Therefore, it’s very important for a person to pay close attention to their teeth and gums.
Teeth Facts
Human teeth are the teeth (small, calcified, hard, whitish structures) found in the human mouth. They function in mechanically breaking down items of food by cutting and crushing them in preparation for swallowing and digestion. See the fact file below for more information and facts about teeth.
