Have you ever wondered how many teeth humans have? The answer is not so simple, but we will help you understand it better. In this article, we are going to tell you about the stages that a tooth goes through and when it is normal for a child or adult to start losing their teeth. We will also talk about how to take care of our teeth so that they last us for a long time!
How many teeth do humans have?
The human mouth has 32 teeth, which are divided into two sections: the upper and lower jaws. The upper jaw contains eight incisors (front teeth), two canines (cuspids), four premolars and six molars, while the lower jaw contains six incisors, two cuspids and four molars.
The front teeth in each tooth group are called incisors because they cut or bite food with a series of small biting motions using only one side of their crown; they are also known as cutters because they cut through food material such as meat into smaller pieces for chewing. The backside or heel of each incisor is flat so that it can come in contact with another tooth during chewing activities such as grinding or crushing hard foods such as seeds or nuts.
The canine teeth—also known as cuspids—are located on either side of the top row at the front part of your mouth; these teeth assist in tearing off pieces from larger pieces like fruit skins or crust from breads before moving down onto other food items for further grinding/cutting activities involving both sides’ surfaces (one side is flat).
Stages in teeth growth
- Teeth are formed before birth, with the first tooth erupting at about 6-12 months. By age 1, all 20 primary (baby) teeth have appeared.
- At around age 6 to 12 years, a child’s permanent teeth begin to erupt behind the baby ones and continue to do so until about 12 years old.
- Finally, by 18 or 19 years old, all 32 permanent teeth should be in place and ready for use!
As a calendar:
- Age 6: The first permanent molars (the “6-year molars”) start to erupt.
- Age 12: All of your permanent teeth have come in.
- Age 16: All of your permanent teeth are fully developed and functional.
- Age 24: Your wisdom teeth begin to emerge from their sockets, but they’re not yet ready to use. Some people may also experience problems with their jaw mobility at this age.
- Age 30+ years old: Teeth can begin to wear down around this time due to excessive chewing on hard foods, grinding sleep apnea (a condition where you stop breathing while sleeping), or other factors that cause stress on the jaw joint such as clenching/grinding habits or bruxism (tooth grinding).
How many teeth children have
Children have 20 baby teeth, which are replaced by permanent teeth. The first tooth usually appears around the age of 6 months and the last one between ages 12 and 24. Baby teeth can be lost before or after this time frame. However, if you lose your baby tooth before age 6, the space left by it will not be filled in until later in life when your adult teeth come in—so don’t worry too much about losing them early!
How many teeth adults have
The average number of teeth an adult has is 32. This means that as you get older, your teeth will start to fall out naturally. For example, children have 20 baby teeth and 8 adult teeth by the age of 12; whereas adults usually have 28 permanent teeth after the third molar (wisdom tooth) falls out.
Adult humans don’t lose their baby teeth until they’re about six years old, but this varies from person to person and depends on how quickly their adult teeth grow in.
How to take care of our teeth
Although many of us have heard the phrase “brush your teeth twice a day,” it’s still important to know what exactly that means. Here are some tips for keeping your pearly whites in tip-top shape:
- Use a soft bristle toothbrush and brush gently at least twice per day.
- Floss regularly (at least once per day).
- Avoid sugary foods as much as possible, especially between meals. Chew sugarless gum or mints after meals to keep bacteria from building up on your teeth and causing decay or plaque buildup that can lead to cavities.
- Visit the dentist regularly for professional cleanings and checkups—and don’t forget about getting fluoride treatments!
As you can see, there are many things to consider when it comes to teeth. But what you should never forget, especially if you are among the many suffiering from what is comonly called as “fear of dentist“, is to take very good care of your teeth. However, as long as we keep our teeth clean and healthy, they will last us a lifetime!