Most of us are often unaware of our exact number of teeth. All adults usually have the same number of teeth, while for children, it varies. Teeth are a crucial part of our everyday lives, bone structure, and digestion. We require our teeth to break down food and ease the process of digestion. As it holds great importance in our lives, it is essential to know how many teeth do humans have and how to take care of them.
When babies grow in the womb, the total of 52 teeth required in one’s entire life starts growing. These baby teeth begin erupting at the age of four to seven months and later fall out after the child reaches the age of six years. The deciduous or baby teeth act as the placeholders of the large set of adult teeth in the jaw. Teeth are the strongest in our bodies and comprise three distinctive layers. Even though it is the hardest, it requires to be diligently taken care of with routine brushing and going for clean-ups.
Taking care of the teeth prevents them from prematurely falling out. There are various ways one can maintain dental hygiene. You can opt for electric brushes, which offer deep cleaning, and regular flossing is a must. From having a total of 52 teeth, it is essential to know how many are adult teeth. Knowing the types of teeth and how to care for them is a top requirement. Awareness of one’s teeth and dental hygiene keeps one safe from contracting various dental issues.
Let us learn more about how many teeth do humans have and how to take care of them.
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What are the three layers of your tooth?
Our teeth are made up of three layers, enamel, dentin and pulp. These layers make the teeth unique and the hardest in our body.
- Enamel: The enamel is the visible outer white layer of the teeth. The hard white surface greatly protects each tooth’s inner layers with care. Enamel protects the underlying inner layers from any damage, injury or decay. It is the hardest tissue of our body, making teeth the most vital part of the human body.
- Dentin: It is the middle layer of the tooth, closely similar to the bone tissue. Dentin does make up the majority of the structure of the teeth. There are millions of tiny tubes present in dentin which connect itself to the living source of the tooth, the pulp.
- Pulp: The pulp is the inner layer of the tooth which is the living core of the teeth. The innermost layer of the teeth is made of nerves and blood. The pulp is the most sensitive and crucial part of each tooth.
Apart from these, the crown is the part of the tooth above the gum line, whereas the part below the gum line is known as the root, which attaches the tooth to the jaw bone. Thus, these are the distinctive layers and the parts of the teeth that constitute the whole tooth.
How many teeth does a child have?
When exploring how many teeth do humans have, it is essential to know the teeth count of a child. In general, baby teeth develop from 6 months old. All baby teeth must grow within the age of 2-3 years old. Baby or primary teeth are temporary and will fall out from age 6. But, a complete set of a child’s teeth includes 10 on each upper and lower jaw, totalling 20 teeth.
Even though baby teeth are temporary, keeping them healthy and clean is crucial, as tooth decay in children adversely affects adult teeth. Hence, maintaining good oral hygiene of the child is a must.
How to take care of the baby’s teeth?
When the baby’s first tooth pops out, it is vital to start with routine brushing. You can follow the following ways to maintain the child’s oral health.
- Rub and clean each tooth and gums using a soft baby towel by soaking it in warm water.
- Letting the child chew on cold and wet towels as it helps with the soreness.
- After all your child’s teeth are out, switching to brushing using a kid’s toothbrush is essential.
How many teeth does an adult have?
After the baby’s teeth have fallen off, the adults grow 32 teeth by their late teens. The adult teeth are incisors, canines, premolars and molars.
- Incisors: Every adult has a total of 8 incisors. These are the front four teeth on the top and bottom, which helps in cutting and holding the food. Incisors help you understand the texture and identify the type of food you are eating.
- Canines: The 4 canines or cuspids are the pointed teeth on the top and bottom, which helps to tear and grab the food.
- Premolars: There are 8 premolars which are a mix of cuspids and molars in shape. Though it looks like molars, Premolars come with two cuspids called bicuspids and help cut and tear food.
- Molars: Adults have a complete set of 8 molars on top and bottom, including wisdom teeth. These molars come with broad chewing surfaces helping grind the food before swallowing it. The wisdom teeth show up late in the early 20s and are often removed surgically.
These form the complete set of 32 teeth in adults. Hence, besides knowing how many teeth do humans have, taking care of these 32 teeth is highly crucial.
How to take care of adult teeth?
A human gets two complete sets of teeth in their entire lifetime. Each of the 32 adult teeth has varied functions to help chew and to eat. For this, indulging in routine brushing and flossing to take care of the teeth and maintaining healthy gums is crucial to avoid cavities and other dental issues.
Thus, this is detailed information about how many teeth do humans have and how you can take care of them. It is a must to maintain good dental hygiene as the teeth often fall prey to cavities and other gum-related issues, resulting in premature falling out of the teeth.
FAQs
1. When do children lose their teeth?
The baby’s teeth start falling out at 6 to 12 years old.
2. By when do adults have their 32 sets of permanent teeth?
At 21, adults have their permanent set of 32 teeth in place.
3. Why are wisdom teeth removed?
Wisdom teeth are often removed because of misaligned teeth, increased decay, impacted wisdom teeth and increased risk of potential dental disease.
