What Teeth Do
Your teeth are amazing tools! You use them every day for eating, talking, and smiling. Without teeth, you could not bite into an apple, chew your food, or say words properly.
Different teeth have different jobs:
- Incisors (front teeth): These are your biting teeth. They cut food into smaller pieces, like scissors.
- Canines (pointy teeth): These are your tearing teeth. They rip tougher foods apart.
- Molars (back teeth): These are your grinding teeth. They crush and grind food into tiny pieces so you can swallow safely.
Each tooth has layers: the hard white outside is called enamel (the hardest thing in your whole body — even harder than bone!). Under the enamel is dentin, which is yellowish and slightly softer. Inside the tooth is the pulp, which has nerves and blood vessels. The nerve is what makes your tooth hurt if you get a cavity.