People may seem incredibly attached to their teeth, but many take their pearly whites for granted because they don’t know enough about how they work or how to take care of them. Thankfully, a little information can make it much easier to keep up with an excellent oral hygiene regimen. Here’s a brief overview of a few interesting facts about your smile.
You Have Four Types of Teeth
A healthy human mouth will typically have thirty-two teeth, and each one is specialized for its role in the chewing and speaking processes. The four types of teeth are:
- Incisors: These are the wide, wedge-like front teeth designed to cut into the food during the chewing process. Your top and bottom dental arches should have four each.
- Canines: These are the sharp fangs on either side of your incisors, and they serve to help grip and tear food while chewing.
- Premolars: These are the sharp teeth with two points between the canines and the molars, and they help shred food to make it easier to grind.
- Molars: These are the large, flat teeth in the back of the mouth, and they are specialized to grind food into a pulp that can be easily swallowed.
Enamel Does Not Grow Back
A person is born with all of their teeth already in their gums, and these will develop and mature there until they are ready to emerge. However, enamel will not grow back if destroyed by injury or decay, so it is often necessary to perform restorative work to keep compromised teeth healthy and functional. Your dentist may address dental damage with treatments like dental fillings or crowns.
Poor Oral Hygiene Can Have Severe Consequences for Your Overall Health
Poor oral hygiene will lead to nasty dental infections that can destroy teeth and cause a host of unpleasant overall health consequences. A few of these include:
- Pneumonia: People with poor oral hygiene may be more likely to develop upper respiratory infections.
- Poor diet: Tooth loss can make it difficult to chew many tasty foods that provide essential nutrients.
- Indigestion: Losing teeth can make chewing thoroughly difficult and set a patient up for uncomfortable digestion.
- Sepsis: Untreated tooth decay can lead to dental gangrene. Neglecting to have a severe infection like this addressed can lead to life-threatening secondary infections like sepsis.
- Isolation: Tooth loss can make it difficult to feel proud of your smile and leave you less willing to engage socially. This can lead to mental health issues like loneliness and depression.
Teeth are fascinating little oral structures that provide a wide range of major benefits. Consulting with your dentist can help you understand how to keep your smile in great shape for life.
About the Author
Dr. Spiro Saati earned his dental degree at Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine and is a proud member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the American Dental Association. He also serves as a clinical instructor at Harvard Dental School. His office in Peabody offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. To schedule your next checkup so you can learn more about why teeth are so fascinating, contact the office online or dial (978) 531-2185.