Understanding the function of teeth by types

Teeth are one of the most powerful parts of the human body. Teeth are made of protein and minerals, as well as calcium. In general, teeth play an important role in chewing food, as well as helping you to speak clearly.

There are several types of teeth arranged in the oral cavity with their respective functions. Each function of these teeth works together with the tongue organ in processing and digesting food until it enters the throat.

Various functions of teeth according to type

Normally, every human being has four types of teeth called incisors, canines, premolars, and molars which include wisdom teeth. In children the total number of teeth is 20, while the number of teeth in adults is increased to 32. Each type of tooth has a slightly different shape and has its own function.

The following are the functions of teeth by type:

• incisors

  The incisors are located at the front of the mouth which play a role in biting food. Generally, each person has four incisors located on the top and four on the bottom. The incisors are usually the first teeth to appear by the time the baby is 6 months old.

• Canine tooth

  Canine teeth are the sharpest teeth that function to chew and tear food. Everyone has two canines that are on the top of the mouth and two on the bottom. Usually, the canines appear between the ages of 16-20 months with the upper canines appearing before the lower canines. However, in permanent (adult) teeth, the order is reversed. The lower canines appear first than the upper ones, which appear around the age of 9 years.

• Premolars

  The premolars are located next to the canines, and are larger than the canines and incisors. The function of the premolars is to chew and grind food into small pieces for easy swallowing. Adults usually have a total of eight premolars, that is, four on each side, two each on the top and two on the bottom.

• Molars

  The molars are the largest and strongest of the teeth. The function of the molars is to chew and grind food. Generally, adults have eight molars, which are divided into four on the top and four on the bottom.

In addition, there are also wisdom teeth which are located behind the molars. Wisdom teeth usually appear in adulthood, which is around the age of 17-25 years. Not everyone has room for wisdom teeth to grow. In fact, sometimes these wisdom teeth can cause complaints such as pain or swelling that occur repeatedly, so they must be removed immediately.

Teeth are one of the important organs in the body, so it is important to always maintain dental health to ensure optimal dental function performance. It is also advisable to check with the dentist at least twice a year or every 6 months.