Well, your Epping Dentist says, “Thank heavens!” to that. If they were all the same, eating would be very difficult! Your teeth are specialised for different tasks, so they have different shapes.
The four teeth right at the front of your mouth on your top and bottom jaws are called incisors. They are chisel-shaped and used for biting into foods like an apple or a banana.
On either side of them are the canines at each end of your incisors. These pointy teeth are your sharpest teeth. They are used for ripping food apart – such as meat off a bone.
The next ones are four pairs of premolars, one on each side of your jaws. They are bigger than your incisors and canines and have ridged flat areas for crushing and grinding your food into smaller pieces.
Your children will not have premolars until sometime after they are ten years old. Their adult premolars grow after they lose their baby molars and their adult molars eventually come in behind the premolars.
If you are concerned about when or how your child’s teeth are erupting, please contact us at your Epping Dentist so we can check out the situation.
Finally, most adults have twelve molars at the back of each jaw. Some adults only have eight as there may not have been enough room for the last four, the wisdom teeth to erupt – or perhaps, they were removed.
The molars’ flattish surfaces grind your food to make it small and mushy enough for you to swallow safely. As you chew, your tongue sweeps the food to the back of your mouth so your molars can do that.
And please! We at your Epping Dentist implore you to be diligent with your tooth cleaning (with fluoride toothpaste) and flossing, so your teeth remain strong throughout your life. After all, your own incisors, canines, premolars, and molars are the best for biting and chewing the food you eat to start your digestive processes. Not to mention talking and smiling!
To find out more, please click the link for an appointment with us:
