Teeth perform several functions, quietly behind the scenes. Apart from significantly contributing to your picture-perfect smile, teeth play a role in speech and in the digestion of food.
This story is actually no big mystery. Humans grow two sets of teeth, a deciduous set (milk teeth, baby teeth) of 20 primary teeth (10 on the top and 10 on the bottom) and a permanent set of 32 permanent adult teeth, 16 on each upper and lower jaw.
Why humans have a deciduous set of teeth is refreshingly simple. Unlike other body parts, teeth do not change in size once fully developed. Since a full set of 32 adult-size permanent teeth are simply too big to be held in a baby’s jaw, these have to be preceded by the initial deciduous set. As the human jaws begin to grow, one will observe gaps between the milk teeth which are filled up when replaced with the larger permanent teeth to give one the even appearance of an adult dentition.
Most adults have about 32 permanent adult teeth, and the teeth may be divided into the following four categories – incisors, canines, premolars and molars.
What Are the 3 Key Functions of the Teeth?
Teeth serve various purposes within the mouth itself. Let’s explore the 3 main functions of your teeth, and learn why it is so important to take good care of them.
There are three main functions of the teeth. Primarily, they are used to chew and break down food. They also greatly aid in speech and the formation of words. Lastly, teeth are essential in maintaining your face shape, as they keep your jaw bone from degrading away over time.
Chewing food
The primary function of your teeth is chewing and breaking down food. Your mouth is the first stop on your meals journey through your digestive tract and your teeth play a very important role here. It’s their job to break your food down into smaller, digestible pieces. Partly the food is broken down small enough to allow it to easily be swallowed and fit through your esophagus.
When we are born, we have 20 ‘baby teeth’ that do not erupt until roughly 6 months after birth. This is because as infants, the main source of nutrients is from nursing, and teeth are not yet required. By the ages of roughly 5-6 years old, these baby teeth begin to fall out and by early to late teens are replaced with a full set of 32 adult teeth. These teeth are more complex and rooted deeply in the jaw. They provide the chewing power needed for eating a variety of foods in order to sustain our complex nutritional needs.
Other Important Facts: Like premolars, molars function to chewing food and to maintain the height of the face. Your bottom and top molars have two and three roots respectively.
As your molars are located in the deep corners of your mouth, the molars tend to be overlooked when brushing teeth. Hence, molars are more vulnerable than other types of teeth to tooth decay. Make a conscious effort to show your molars some love when you brush your teeth!
Speech
Teeth are required in order to properly pronounce certain words and phrases. Many sounds ( c, f, j, l, s, v ) require the placement of either the lip, tongue or opposing teeth to make the appropriate sound. When someone has missing teeth, or they have misaligned teeth, it can affect their ability to enunciate clearly. This can cause mispronunciations and in some cases even lisping. The tongue, teeth and lips all work together to form words. Now try with above letters to see where your tongue is positioned against your teeth when forming words.
The formation of speech is so important, especially for young children who are just learning to speak. Proper orthodontic and dental care is essential at this stage, to identify any potential speech-related problems when it comes to tooth and jaw placement.
Maintaining Facial Structures
Lastly, the third key function of the teeth is maintaining your facial structure. Many people do not realize that, even though the jaw supports your teeth, teeth also play an important role in keeping your jaw healthy.
The teeth maintain the jawbone structure and subsequently, the structure and appearance of the face. When patients have missing teeth for a long period of time, the jaw bone can slowly degrade or atrophy. This not only weakens your jaw bone, but it also creates a gaunt, sunken appearance to your face.
Importance of Oral Health Care
Teeth are an incredible part of the human body and they serve several purposes. Despite giving you the ability to flash a charming smile, teeth are there for more significant reasons. Not only do they help with chewing and breaking down food, but they also aid in word formation and prevent jaw bone atrophy. You only get one set of adult teeth in your lifetime, so it is very important to take proper care of them. We suggest brushing and flossing 2 times per day, and visiting your dentist every six months for a check-up.
If you are a parent with young children, it is important to take them for dental visits early on. Your dentist will be able to identify any orthodontic misalignments that could lead to speech impediments later in life. Catching these problems early helps your child in regular development.
Likewise, if you are missing teeth, you can suffer from poorly chewed food, speech problems and even bone loss. There are many different tooth replacement options available to help restore your teeth and greatly improve your quality of life. The team at THE DENTAL HOUSE would be happy to meet with you to discuss a treatment plan.
Visit THE DENTAL HOUSE, Your Dentist in Hubli, Karnataka
At The Dental House we know how important your teeth are and we work every day to help our patients improve, maintain and restore their smiles. Our goal is to provide exceptional patient care, in a calming and relaxed environment. Our practice is in Hubli and we take a holistic approach to dental treatment and post-care.
Book your Dental Appointment today, We look forward to meeting with you and helping with your oral health care needs.
The Dental House Hubli 
Leave a comment