5 FACTS ABOUT TEETH

1 INCISORS ARE TROUBLEMAKERS

Lateral incisors can suffer from a spectrum of defects, such as missing enamel, a duplication of the tooth or an absence of the tooth. This is a consequence of how they develop in the jaw.

2 VERSATILE JAW MUSCLES

The muscles of the jaw generate the most power when compressing teeth vertically. However, humans can also shift their jaw forwards and side to side to assist compression chewing with sheer force.

3 TWO SETS ISN’T ENOUGH

Unlike mammals, other animals such as reptiles and toothed fishes boast polyphyodont dentition, which means they constantly replace their teeth until their tooth buds are completely depleted.

4 ADDITIONS, NOT SUBSTITUTIONS

Although deciduous back teeth are known as ‘molars’, their permanent successors are premolars. Permanent molars are additional teeth that only appear once the jaw is large enough to accommodate them.

5 TEETH ARE FOR TALKING

As well as helping us mechanically break down our food, teeth are also important for speech. Teeth are especially important for making ‘F’, ‘V’ and ‘Th’ sounds.