You may think that you have the same teeth as an adult that you had as a child, only larger. However, adults have larger mouths, which means that you need larger teeth to chew and grind your food into smaller portions. Do you know what each of your adult teeth is used for? Here is a breakdown of the kinds of teeth you have as an adult.
Types and Functions of Adult Teeth
Adults can have anywhere from 26 teeth to 32 teeth. However, the types of teeth do not change, no matter how many teeth they have.
Incisors
Incisors are the small, narrow teeth directly in front of your mouth. You have four incisors in your top jaw and four incisors in your lower jaw. Incisors slice or cut food into smaller bites. They are usually the first teeth you get as a baby, the first teeth you lose as an adult, and the first permanent teeth to erupt.
Canines
Canines are also called eye teeth because they are located directly below your eyes. Canines are also called cuspids. Most adults have two canine teeth in the top jaw and two canine teeth in the lower jaw. They are responsible for cutting and tearing your food.
Premolars
Premolars, also called bicuspids, are located next to your canine teeth. You have four premolars in your top jaw and four premolars in your lower jaw. Premolars have an uneven biting surface, which adults use to crush, bite, or grind their food. Premolars also have two tooth roots as opposed to the single tooth root that your canines and incisors have.
Molars
Molars are the largest teeth in your body, and they have to be because they handle the majority of the work of reducing your food into small bites for you to swallow. Like premolars, molars have an uneven biting surface full of grooves and pits to help crush or grind your food. Like the teeth they are located next to, the premolars and molars have two tooth roots.
Not sure if you are properly taking care of all of your teeth? Why not reach out today so we can set up an appointment with our dentist?
