Your teeth play an important role in eating – and your health in general. Teeth break down your food by crushing or cutting it into smaller pieces, allowing you to swallow comfortably1, and taking care of them can improve both your quality of life and wider wellbeing.
This article will cover how many teeth adults have, the various teeth names and types of teeth, as well as more about tooth anatomy in general.
How many teeth do we have?
Human adults usually have a total of 32 ‘permanent’ teeth, including wisdom teeth. That said, some individuals may experience conditions such as hypodontia (missing teeth) or hyperdontia (extra teeth)1. It’s also possible to lose adult teeth due to poor oral health, including gum disease.
You will have different kinds of teeth throughout your life. These include:
Milk teeth
Milk teeth are the first type of teeth that babies and infants will have. They develop before birth and typically emerge when the child is between six and 12 months old2. This is also known as the ‘teething’ stage.
Children typically have a full set of 20 milk teeth by three years of age. It’s important that they keep these teeth clean and healthy as this will help with eating, talking, and reducing the chances of any future problems with their adult teeth when these come through2.
Milk teeth usually start falling out when the child is between five and six years old, and for a while after that, with adult teeth pushing through to ‘replace’ them2.
Adult teeth
Children should have lost their baby teeth and have 28 adult teeth – larger in size and strength – by the time they reach 12 to 14 years of age2.
A full set of adult teeth totals 32, including wisdom teeth1.
Wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth are a type of molar, and begin to erupt at the back/corners of the mouth, usually when you reach 17 to 21 years of age.
Not everyone develops wisdom teeth, and they may not develop until later into adulthood. Some may also ‘partially erupt’2.
Your dentist can help with further advice on how to manage them, as some people experience problems with their wisdom teeth erupting2. Discomfort can occur due to:
Positioning
Lack of space
Food/debris becoming trapped behind/underneath them
Growth direction.
Sometimes this can lead to pain and your wisdom teeth may need to be removed. Some removals can take place at the dentist with local anaesthetic, while other cases may require hospital removal under general anaesthetic.2
Anatomy of a tooth and structure explained
Teeth may look like tiny bones, but they’re actually a type of ‘ectodermal organ’, or tissue, formed when an embryo is in early development. Other examples of ectodermal organs include your hair, skin and sweat glands1.
Each tooth is made up of different layers. Enamel is the protective outer layer of your teeth, and it’s the hardest substance in your body1.
All types of tooth feature:
Enamel: The tough, white, visible layer that protects the tooth. It’s the hardest tissue in the body.
Dentin: The middle layer of the tooth. Dentin is like bone and makes up the bulk of the tooth. It’s connected to the ‘pulp’ via tiny tubes.
Pulp: The pulp is the innermost layer and the living core of the tooth. It contains nerves and blood vessels.
The ‘crown’ is the part of the tooth you see above the gums, while the ‘root’ anchors the tooth to the jawbone below the gums3.
Teeth names, types and their functions
There are various different types of teeth, and each serve a specific purpose.
Humans typically have four types of permanent teeth. These are: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.
Incisors
Incisors are the most visible teeth you can see in your mouth, located at the very front. Most people have four on both the upper and lower jaws, including the front two teeth and those beside them. Each incisor has a single narrow edge, which is designed for cutting through food when biting1.
Canines
Canine teeth are named for their resemblance to dog fangs, and are typically pointier than your other teeth. Most people have four canines, one in each quadrant of the mouth. The function of canines is to help you to tear your food – especially meat and crunchy vegetables.
Canines are sometimes referred to as 'eye teeth' due to their position under the eyes1.
Premolars
Premolars, also known as bicuspids, are located between the canines and the molars to the sides and in the back of the mouth.
Premolars have characteristics of both canines and molars. They help with tearing, crushing, and grinding food into smaller pieces so it’s easier to eat1.
Molars
Molar teeth are located at the very back and sides of the mouth. Molars are the main chewing teeth, designed for crushing and grinding food. Most chewing (around 90%) happens here.
Most adults have 12 molars, three in each quadrant, and these include wisdom teeth. In fact, wisdom teeth are sometimes referred to as ‘third molars’.
If you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed or were born without them, you will likely just have eight molars in total1.
Understanding Tooth Numbers in the UK
When it comes to tooth anatomy, dentists and healthcare providers actually use numbering systems to label our teeth. You may have even heard your dentist saying numbers and locations out loud while examining your teeth, and wondered what they were talking about!
While there are several systems, the ‘Palmer Notation’ method is the most widely used system in the UK4.
This method relies on a simple system to represent the quadrant in the mouth, and whether it is up, lower, left or right. It is always indicated by the patient's left and right – never the person sitting opposite the patient and viewing.
Therefore, if a dentist would like to discuss the permanent dentition 1st premolar on the right-hand side, you would hear them talk about upper right 4, sometimes abbreviated to UR4.
How to keep your teeth healthy
How many teeth you have, and retain as an adult, can be greatly impacted by your oral health.
Sensitive teeth and bad breath could be signs of a medical issue, so it’s important to keep a healthy oral hygiene routine.
Healthy habits that you can adopt to keep your teeth strong and healthy include:
Brushing twice daily using a fluoride toothpaste5,6
Using mouthwash, such as LISTERINE® products – which are specially formulated to help kill germs and freshen breath
Flossing between your teeth once a day5, or using an interdental brush to remove food, debris and plaque6
Replacing your toothbrush every three months5, and using an electric toothbrush for more thorough cleaning around your teeth
Having regular check-ups with your dentist – as detecting issues early makes them easier to treat6
Going for professional dental cleanings every six months5, or more often if required
Being aware of foods to eat or avoid for stronger teeth, and avoiding sugary foods and drinks5,6
Talking to your doctor about ways to quit smoking, if you do so5,6
For more useful tips and advice, check out all our articles on Oral Care.
FAQs
Most adults will have 28 teeth, if they do not have their wisdom teeth. With wisdom teeth, adults usually have 32 teeth in total – but not everyone develops these. It is also possible to have more or less adult teeth depending on certain biological conditions, or a person’s general oral health7.
Younger children usually have a full set of 20 ‘milk teeth’ by the time they’re three years old. By the age of 12 to 14, however, they will typically have 28 adult teeth after these have gradually emerged2.
A toothache occurs when the pulp – the innermost part of the tooth – is inflamed. This can be caused by issues including tooth decay, a cracked tooth, loose or broken fillings, receding gums or a periapical abscess8. The best way to avoid a toothache is to try and keep your teeth and gums healthy8.