When you smile and look in the mirror, you will notice that there are some teeth that are shaped like animal fangs or spearheads. Yep, those are canines. With a pointed shape, canine teeth function to tear and crush food.
Teeth are the hardest part of the human body. Based on the anatomy of the teeth and their types, there are various types of teeth, namely incisors, canines, molars, and premolars. Each of these types of teeth has its own characteristics, shape, and function.
Each adult normally has a total of 32 teeth, consisting of 12 molars, 8 premolars, 4 canines, and 8 incisors.
Just like adults, children also have 4 canines. However, there will come a time when their baby teeth fall out and become permanent teeth. Normally, a child's canines will change into permanent canines when they are 11-13 years old.
Know What Are Canines and Their Functions
In contrast to incisors which are used to cut or molars to crush food, canines function to tear or tear food. With the roots of the teeth reaching the jawbone, the canines also have greater strength than the incisors.
Therefore, when there is a problem with the canines, such as the canines growing in the wrong position, abnormalities in the shape and size, or even not growing at all, it is likely that this will make it difficult for you to chew food or even speak.
The emergence of these abnormalities can be caused by many things, ranging from heredity, a disorder in the jaw tissue, or the loss of milk teeth (in children).
Treat Canines from Now on!
Having problems with canine teeth will certainly interfere and reduce the beauty of your smile. So, come on, take care of dental health from now on.
To maintain and care for dental health, including canines, do the following tips:
1. Regularly brushing teeth
Tooth brushing needs to be done 2 times a day, especially after every meal and before going to bed. To brush your teeth, use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head so that it reaches all parts of the teeth, including between the canines.
2. Choosing the right toothpaste
Generally, a good toothpaste for cleaning teeth is a toothpaste that contains fluoride. This substance serves to harden and strengthen the protective layer or tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay.
3. Clean teeth with dental floss
Cleaning teeth by brushing alone is not enough. you know. To clean your teeth better, it is necessary to floss your teeth at least once a day.
4. Avoid foods and drinks that can damage teeth
To maintain the strength and health of your teeth, limit the consumption of foods or drinks that are too sweet or sour. This is because foods or drinks that contain high sugar or acid can damage tooth enamel and cause cavities.
5. Chewing gum
Chewing sugar-free gum can also be a simple way to take care of your teeth. By chewing gum, food debris that may be stuck in the teeth can be lifted and the production of saliva which is useful for cleaning acids that stick to the teeth can be increased.
In addition, you also need to meet the needs of fluids by drinking lots of water to clean the remaining dirt left on the sidelines and the surface of the teeth, including canines. As much as possible, avoid the habit of using your teeth to bite hard objects, such as opening bottles or opening food packaging.
In addition to following the tips above, maintaining dental health also needs to be done by regularly checking your teeth to the dentist, at least every 6 months. This dental examination aims to detect dental problems early, so that they can be treated immediately.