Growing up, you’ve probably heard countless dentists say the same thing: “Make sure you take good care of your teeth! Brush, floss, and come back to visit me!” Sounds familiar, right? Maybe you haven’t taken the best care of your teeth because you don’t truly understand how each tooth plays a big part in how your smile functions. That’s why your Mount Pleasant dentist, Dr. Virginia L. Gregory, wants to explain the positioning of each tooth in your mouth and how to properly care for them. After learning about your types of teeth, hopefully you’ll put your best effort in trying to avoid losing any of them due to oral health concerns.
Incisors
When you first smile, these are the first teeth you see. Some dentists call this “the aesthetic zone” because these are the first teeth that other people judge when you open your mouth. Besides showing off your smile, incisors help you to take bites of your food. The best way to take care of incisors is to:
- Brush and floss every day.
- Wear a custom mouthguard when playing sports or doing anything athletic (most sports-related dental injuries over in the front teeth).
- Visit your dentist semiannually to get them professionally cleaned.
Canines
The next teeth to develop are canine teeth. You have probably heard them playfully referred to as “vampire teeth.” These are the sharpest teeth in your smile and help you to tear your food apart. The best way to care for canine teeth is to:
- Brush and floss regularly—especially floss because tough foods can get stuck between these teeth.
- Visit your dentist semiannually for a checkup and professional cleaning.
Molars
The molars primary function plays a crucial role in the digestive system by being the first step in breaking down food—chewing and grinding it between your back teeth. You have four premolars (two on the upper jaw and two on the lower jaw) and then the second set of permanent molars grow in behind those.
If you’ve ever seen someone with tooth pain in their back teeth or even missing a molar, their quality of life dramatically declines. It becomes hard to enjoy food! It’s important to care for your molars like this:
- If you can floss between these teeth. Dr. Gregory knows it can be difficult to reach further back in your mouth, but there are tools that can make flossing easier like a water pik or individual threaded flossers.
- Remove as much food and bacteria as possible by brushing regularly.
- Visit your dentist for dental checkups and professional cleanings every six months.
Third Molars
Most patients call these teeth “wisdom teeth.” These are the last teeth to develop and don’t usually break through your gums until you’re a young adult. Your third molars are there to help with the digestive system as well with breaking down food.
A lot of patients experience dental issues when they start to come in like overcrowding. In that case, your dentist can perform an easy, practically painless wisdom tooth extraction to help you maintain good oral health. When it comes to your third molars, remember these things:
- They are meant to be a functioning part of your smile, but Dr. Gregory will recommend removing them if they have issues growing in properly.
- Brush and floss thoroughly as they come in to avoid bacterial infections.
- Visit and openly communicate with your dentist about your adult teeth growing in.
Don’t take any piece of your smile for granted! Each of our teeth play important roles in our lives. Visit Dr. Gregory to check on the development and maintenance of your teeth. If you need to schedule an appointment, contact our office today!