Have you ever counted your teeth and discovered that you had more (or less) than someone else, even though you’ve never had any teeth removed? If so, don’t worry — this is a pretty common occurrence. But why do some people have more teeth than others, and how many teeth does the average adult have?
Adults have a maximum of 32 teeth, including 4 wisdom teeth. Some people naturally have fewer wisdom teeth, but all adults generally have at least 28 permanent teeth. If your wisdom teeth cause pain or other oral problems, they can be removed by a dentist.
Let’s take a closer look at why some people have more teeth than others, why your wisdom teeth may cause pain, and how to treat problems caused by misaligned wisdom teeth.
How Many Teeth Does an Adult Have?
An adult human typically has a total of 28 permanent teeth — if we exclude the wisdom teeth. There are exceptions, however, and some people have more teeth than others.
This is because the number of wisdom teeth varies from person to person. However, there are 4 usually wisdom teeth, making it a total of 32 teeth (16 in the upper jaw and 16 in the lower jaw).
Even though permanent teeth start to form when a baby is born, they only begin to appear six years later and are completely out by the age of 21. Baby teeth, on the other hand, number 20 altogether, and while they do help the baby chew certain foods, they mainly act as placeholders for permanent teeth.
The reason why the number of wisdom teeth varies from person to person isn’t known. Most people have 4 wisdom teeth, but others may not even have any at all.
The number of wisdom teeth that you have is the only factor that determines your exact number of teeth. Of course, this doesn’t include any accidents or illnesses that could result in a loss of teeth.
Losing a tooth as a child is not as big of a deal because the permanent tooth is on its way. However, losing a tooth or even multiple teeth as an adult can be really scary because they don’t grow back.
What Are the 4 Types of Teeth?
An adult’s 32 permanent teeth can be divided into 4 different groups. Each of these groups has its own functions but they work together to form an important functional and integrated system. This system is important because it is the first step of the digestive system.
Here are the 4 types of teeth and their functions:
Incisors
Incisors are the front-most teeth, which are used mainly for biting into food or smiling. Most adults have a total of 8 incisors — 4 at the bottom and 4 on the top. Did you know that this group of teeth can also help you sense the texture of the food you eat?
Canines
This group of teeth got its name because it resembles the fangs of a dog. Canines are the sharpest and most pointed of all the teeth, and they sit directly next to the incisors at the top and the bottom of the mouth. Canines are responsible for tearing tough foods like meats.
Premolars
Premolars are transitional teeth that come between the canines and the molars. An adult has 8 premolars — 4 on the top and 4 at the bottom. The main function of the premolars is to begin breaking down the food into smaller pieces. They’re also used for chewing and grinding soft foods.
Molars
Molars are the teeth located at the back of the mouth and are used for grinding hard food down into small pieces that are easy to swallow. A fully grown adult typically has 12 molars, but this number could vary because it includes the wisdom teeth.
What Is a Wisdom Tooth For?
Wisdom teeth are unlike all other permanent teeth because they only begin developing when a child is 10 years old, and they only appear between the ages of 17 and 25. For this reason, they’re called wisdom teeth — they appear when the person is wiser.
Wisdom teeth cause significant pain and dental problems for many people, and sometimes the pain is described as being almost unbearable. The reason why all these complications occur with wisdom teeth is that in some cases, there just isn’t enough space in the jaw for the wisdom teeth to squeeze through.
Anthropologists believe that wisdom teeth were needed by our ancestors to chew hard foods, but over time they’ve become redundant. This has resulted in our jaws becoming smaller, which means a smaller gap for the wisdom teeth to pass through, resulting in excruciating pain in some cases.
While there certainly are cases where people have enough space for their wisdom teeth without any complications, most people will need to remove some, if not all, of their wisdom teeth. The function of the wisdom teeth for people who don’t need to have them removed is similar to that of the molars.
When Should Wisdom Teeth Be Removed?
Wisdom teeth should be removed when someone experiences any of the following symptoms:
- Pain or swelling in the jaw
- Difficulty eating or opening the mouth wide
- Bad breath
- Headaches
- Bleeding gums
All of these are warning signs of problematic wisdom teeth, and they will likely cause oral issues later if they aren’t addressed immediately.
If there is compression or blockage of the wisdom teeth, they will have to be removed through dental surgery. Not removing the wisdom teeth when necessary could result in further complications such as severe infections, dislocation of permanent teeth, and even the development of cysts.
Most wisdom teeth are removed after they’ve come through the surface of the gum and are clearly visible. However, when the wisdom teeth are severely constricted and don’t have enough room to come through the surface of the gum, this is called impacted wisdom teeth.
Impacted wisdom teeth are more of an issue than normal wisdom teeth as they can cause irreparable damage to permanent teeth. Therefore, identifying the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth and getting them removed as soon as possible is crucial to oral health.
