What are chewing teeth called? They’re called molars and premolars, and these teeth sit at the back of your mouth to grind and crush your food into smaller pieces.
What is the difference between molars and premolars?
Premolars are the teeth between your canines and molars. Adults have eight premolars total, with two on each side of the upper jaw and two on each side of the lower jaw. These teeth have one or two pointed parts on top called cusps.
Molars are larger than premolars and sit further back in your mouth. Adults have 12 molars, including four wisdom teeth. Molars have four or five cusps on their chewing surface, which makes them better at crushing food.
How many chewing teeth do humans have?
Adults have 20 chewing teeth in total:
- 8 premolars
- 12 molars (including 4 wisdom teeth)
Children have only 8 molars in their baby teeth set. Baby teeth don’t include premolars or wisdom teeth.
What do molars and premolars look like?
Premolars have a flat top with one or two bumps. The upper premolars usually have two roots that anchor them to your jaw, while lower premolars have one root. The chewing surface is smaller than molars but bigger than your front teeth.
Molars have a large, flat surface with multiple bumps and grooves. First and second molars have strong roots, with upper molars having three roots and lower molars having two roots. The grooves on top create a grinding surface that works like a mill to break down food.
Why do we need chewing teeth?
Your molars and premolars do the hard work of breaking down food. Front teeth bite and tear food, but molars and premolars grind it into a paste you can swallow safely. Without these teeth, you would struggle to eat tough foods like meat, nuts, vegetables, and grains.
The grinding action also helps digestion. Food broken into smaller pieces mixes better with saliva, which starts breaking down starches before food reaches your stomach.
When do chewing teeth grow in?
Baby molars appear between 12 and 30 months of age. Children get their first molars around their first birthday, and second molars come through around age 2 to 3.
Permanent premolars replace baby molars between ages 10 and 12. First permanent molars (also called six-year molars) grow behind baby teeth around age 6. Second molars appear around age 12. Wisdom teeth, the third set of molars, usually come through between ages 17 and 25, though some people never get them.
What problems affect chewing teeth?
Cavities form more easily on molars and premolars because the grooves on top trap food and bacteria. Brushing these back teeth takes more effort, and many people miss spots when they rush through cleaning.
Wisdom teeth cause problems for many adults. About 85% of people need wisdom teeth removed because there isn’t enough room in their jaw. Impacted wisdom teeth grow sideways or stay trapped under the gum, which causes pain, infection, and damage to other teeth.
Grinding teeth at night wears down the chewing surface of molars and premolars. This habit, called bruxism, can crack teeth and cause jaw pain.
How do you keep chewing teeth healthy?
Brush molars and premolars for the full two minutes dentists recommend. Use small circular motions and tilt your brush to reach the grooves. Pay extra attention to the back molars, which sit furthest from view.
Floss between all your teeth daily. Food gets stuck between molars and premolars more than other teeth because these teeth sit close together.
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Dental sealants protect molars from cavities. Dentists paint a thin plastic coating over the grooves on top of molars, which blocks food and bacteria from getting stuck. This treatment works well for children’s permanent molars and reduces cavities by up to 80%.
Visit your dentist twice a year for cleaning and checkups. Dentists spot problems with chewing teeth before they cause pain or need major treatment.
What happens if you lose a chewing tooth?
Missing molars and premolars make eating difficult. You can’t chew food properly on the side with the missing tooth, which forces you to chew on one side only. This creates uneven wear on your remaining teeth and can cause jaw problems.
Other teeth shift when you lose a molar or premolar. Teeth next to the gap tilt inward, and the tooth above or below the space can grow longer because nothing stops it. These changes create bite problems and make your remaining teeth harder to clean.
Dentists replace missing chewing teeth with implants, bridges, or partial dentures. Implants work best because they replace both the tooth and root, which keeps your jawbone strong. A single dental implant in Australia costs between $3,000 and $6,000.
Do animals have chewing teeth?
Most mammals have molars for grinding food. Herbivores like cows, horses, and elephants have large, flat molars with complex ridges that grind tough plant material. Carnivores like cats and dogs have sharper molars called carnassials that slice meat instead of grinding it.
Omnivores like bears, pigs, and humans have molars that can both grind and crush. This design lets us eat a wide variety of foods from both plants and animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the four types of teeth?
Humans have incisors for cutting, canines for tearing, premolars for crushing, and molars for grinding. Each type has a specific job in breaking down food.
Are wisdom teeth necessary?
No. Wisdom teeth were useful for our ancestors who ate rough, uncooked food that wore down teeth quickly. Modern humans don’t need wisdom teeth, and many people have them removed.
Can molars grow back?
No. Adult molars don’t grow back once lost. Baby molars fall out and permanent molars replace them, but you only get one set of permanent molars.
Why do molars have grooves?
Grooves increase the surface area for grinding food. The peaks and valleys work together to crush food into smaller pieces.
Which teeth are the strongest?
Molars are the strongest teeth because they have the largest roots and the thickest enamel. First molars handle the most chewing force.
Do all molars have the same number of roots?
No. Upper molars have three roots, lower molars have two roots. Premolars have one or two roots depending on their position.
How much force can molars exert?
Molars can generate up to 97 kilograms of force when you bite down. This crushing power lets you chew tough foods.
What age do you stop getting teeth?
Most people get their last teeth (wisdom teeth) between ages 17 and 25. After that, no new teeth grow naturally.
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