Have you ever wondered how many teeth humans actually have? Have you ever tried to count your teeth with your tongue? Even though we use our teeth every single day for things like chewing and speaking, many people don’t really know much about them.

There are plenty of interesting facts about teeth, but let’s start from the beginning by answering the question: “How many teeth do humans have?”

The short answer is: humans have 20 primary (baby) teeth and 32 permanent (adult) teeth over the course of their lives. While that quick answer might help you win a trivia game, it doesn’t really explain what your teeth do or why they’re so important.

So you need the longer answer. And with that longer answer, let’s go one step further and break down those 32 permanent teeth. The teeth in your mouth are made up of the following 32 teeth:

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Incisors

The incisors are the teeth right in the middle of your smile—four in the upper arch and four in the lower arch. Incisors are the first baby teeth to erupt and fall out, and they are also the first permanent teeth to come in.

Primary incisors usually erupt at around 6 months of age and fall out at about 6 years old to make room for the permanent incisors. They have a broad, flat appearance and work much like a chisel. Their sharp edges are used to bite into food and cut it into smaller pieces.

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Canines

Moving away from the center of your smile, the next teeth you encounter are the canines. There are two canines in the upper arch and two in the lower arch. Primary canines usually erupt between 16–20 months of age, starting with the upper arch.

Permanent canines, however, begin to appear at around 9 years of age, starting with the lower arch. Canines are also commonly called “eye teeth” or “cuspid teeth,” and in everyday language they’re often referred to as “fangs” because of their pointed shape. Their sharp, pointed cusp helps tear and shred food.

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Premolars (Bicuspids)

Next, in our discussion of how many teeth humans have, come the premolars—also known as bicuspids. There are eight premolars total: four in the upper arch and four in the lower arch.

Premolars are larger than incisors and canines but smaller than molars. They have a relatively flat chewing surface with ridges (cusps) used to crush and grind food into smaller pieces. Premolars do not appear in humans until around the age of 10, which means there is only one set of premolars, and they are all permanent teeth.

Molars

Molars are the large teeth located at the back of your mouth. Humans have six upper molars and six lower molars, for a total of twelve. The first set of permanent molars usually erupts at around age 6, the second set at about age 12, and the third set between ages 17 and 25.

Out of all your teeth, molars are the strongest. They are designed to thoroughly grind and crush food so it can be swallowed safely.

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Wisdom Teeth

Your third molars are commonly known as wisdom teeth. Unfortunately, these teeth often need to be removed because they usually don’t have enough space to erupt properly in the mouth. Wisdom teeth are considered vestigial structures—remnants from our evolutionary past that no longer serve a clear function.

Thousands of years ago, humans had larger jaws and a tougher diet that required extra chewing power. Today, our diets are generally softer, and our jaws are smaller than those of our ancestors. This lack of space often prevents the third molars from fully erupting and can lead to problems such as pain, swelling, and infection.

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The dental clinic at Batal Specialized Complex is equipped with advanced tools and devices to help anyone suffering from tooth pain get relief at the hands of highly skilled dentists. Don’t hesitate to book an appointment at the dental clinic of Batal Specialized Complex.