Amazing facts about teeth

It goes without saying that our teeth are crucial not only to our appearance but also to our well-being. When asked in surveys, people often cite the teeth as among the most attractive features in others, and without teeth, biting and chewing food would, of course, be impossible. But how much do we actually know about our teeth? Do they represent just another case of the proverbial "you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone"?

 

Our milk teeth start growing even before we are born, and most children have about 20 milk teeth by their third birthday. When a child is five or six, these teeth start to fall out and are replaced by adult teeth. By the time we reach our teens, we have 28 of the full 32 adult teeth in place, with the four wisdom teeth to follow at their own pace, often appearing by our mid-20s.

There are four different types of teeth in your mouth. The incisors — the four front teeth on the top jaw and the four on the bottom — are the cutting and chopping teeth. On each side of the incisors is a canine tooth (making four in total). These pointy teeth are used for tearing. Behind the incisors on each jaw are four premolars and six molars, which include the wisdom teeth. The premolars and molars are the wide, flat teeth that are used for grinding food to make it easier to swallow.

 

The enamel covering your teeth is the hardest element in the human body. When this hard, white surface is penetrated, tooth decay occurs. This can happen when food is left on the surface of the teeth. Bacteria consume the food, leaving a sticky deposit called plaque. This plaque contains acid which can erode the enamel, leaving the tooth vulnerable to decay and you suffering with a toothache.

 

So whenever you eat or drink, your teeth are actually under attack. But this is less of a worry than it might seem. First, your mouth is constantly working to repair your teeth by producing saliva, which replaces lost minerals. Also, it is relatively easy to prevent tooth decay if you keep to a few simple rules. You can limit the attacks on your teeth by avoiding sugary food and drinks and by brushing regularly, at least twice a day. And don’t forget to floss.