If you’re like most people, you probably don’t give your teeth a lot of thought—until there is a problem. Teeth not only help us chew and digest our food, but they also impact the way we speak. Teeth can influence how we feel about ourselves too, depending on whether or not we like the way they look when we smile.
Are you giving your teeth the attention they deserve? If you are overdue for a cleaning and checkup, call Encinitas, CA dentist Dr. Scott Jordan to make an appointment!
Different Teeth Have Different Jobs
Overall, your teeth are the first step in the digestion process. Chewing makes it easier for you to swallow your food and digest it.
Each type of tooth looks different and services a unique purpose. Let’s take a look at them in the order in which they usually appear.
- The incisors are the front teeth; there are four on the top and four on the bottom. Most babies grow the bottom incisors first, with the top coming in soon after. The purpose of these teeth is to enable you to take bites of your food.
- The canines are usually the next to appear. These are the fang-like teeth next to the upper and lower incisors. There are four in all. The sharp shape of these teeth makes tearing off food easier.
- The bicuspids—also referred to as premolars—help you to chew your food. Normally, there are four of these teeth on each side of the mouth: two on the top and two on the bottom.
- The molars are at the very back of the mouth. These large, strong teeth are used for grinding food.
- Many people will also develop third molars, which are commonly called wisdom teeth. Our modern diets mean we really don’t need these teeth for chewing. In addition, they can often cause crowding, or they may not come in correctly, so they are frequently extracted.
Call Scott Jordan, DDS to Make an Appointment
Make sure all of your teeth are healthy be coming in for an examination with Dr. Jordan, your dentist in Encinitas, CA. Call us today!