HOW MANY TEETH DO WE HAVE?

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW MANY TEETH YOU HAVE?

Most adults have 32 teeth, and most people have a complete set of adult teeth by the time they are a teenager. Over our entire adult life, we will normally have had 52 teeth in total, including baby teeth.  

TYPES OF TEETH

Teeth are shaped in a certain way to crush and grind different foods. Human teeth have crushing teeth in the back and tearing teeth in the front. Overall, we have four different types of teeth; 8 incisors, which are used to tear through food like meat, 4 canines which are for grabbing and tearing food, 12 molars which are for crushing and grinding down food, and 8 pre-molars, which cut and tear food. At the age of 18-25 is when the four molars typically referred to as wisdom teeth will erupt, and by the ages of 20-25 a person should have all thirty-two teeth. However, there is no written rule about this. Some individuals never grow wisdom teeth. It’s perfectly normal not to have wisdom teeth, and it’s perfectly normal to have wisdom teeth.  

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH WISDOM TEETH?

Our jaws have gotten smaller as our brains have evolved. This is because in the past, jaws needed large masticating muscles for chewing and that took up blood flow that our brains needed. Wisdom teeth used to be part of normal teeth development. Now, with smaller jaws, sometimes there simply isn’t room for wisdom teeth inside the mouth. It’s actually common in some parts of the world for adults to have 28 teeth instead of 32. Many children and adults end up having to have their wisdom teeth removed because they do not grow properly and cause discomfort. Wisdom teeth can also cause other teeth to shift improperly, causing bite and/or speech problems or even pain.  

LOSING TEETH

Healthy adults will not lose teeth until they are in old age. But with the consumption of modern foods that erode the enamel-like alcohol and sugar, teeth can fall out earlier. Bad diets and poor oral hygiene often lead to teeth problems like gum disease. Interestingly, native tribes who eat their natural diet have no teeth problems although they never brush their teeth. If you have lost teeth through an injury there are multiple procedures to fix the issue. Completely new teeth can be put in through dental surgery or fillers can be applied to a damaged tooth. If you have teeth or gum problems the issue can likely be helped by a competent dentist or oral surgeon. Many people avoid going to the dentist but with modern technology, dental visits are quite painless and pleasant, especially since results can be so positive.  

CHILDREN’S TEETH

Children typically have about 20 so-called baby teeth before their adult teeth grow in. Young children begin growing their first set of teeth at around 6 months old. The term for these are deciduous teeth, but most people simply call them baby teeth. As they get older baby teeth will grow and eventually fall out and be replaced with adult teeth, which is the full set of 32. Children need to see the dentist even before their first baby tooth has come in. Bacteria and other issues can harm baby teeth before they’ve broken the surface of the gums. Though many parents think baby teeth cavities are harmless, in fact, they can negatively impact the child’s oral health over the long-term.  

TAKING CARE OF TEETH

It’s important to take care of your teeth both at home and with regular dentist visits. As an adult, you can’t regrow teeth. It’s important to regularly brush them and go to the dentist for an appointment regularly. Diet is also an important part of teeth health. A poor diet will eventually show itself in the teeth and gums. Sugar, in particular, erodes the enamel on the teeth which slowly decays the tooth dentin. Regularly brushing the teeth after meals and flossing will help you have a healthy smile. To make an appointment with a dentist today, please contact us.