When you smile and look in the mirror, you will realize that there are some teeth that have shapes like animal fangs or spearheads. Yep, those are canines. With a pointed shape, canine teeth function to tear and destroy food.
Teeth are the hardest part of the human body. Based on tooth anatomy and type, there are various types of teeth, namely incisors, canines, molars, and premolar teeth. Each type of tooth has its own characteristics, shape, and function.
Each adult normally has a total of 32 teeth, consisting of 12 molars, 8 premolar teeth, 4 canines, and 8 incisors.
Just like adults, children also have 4 canines. It's just that the time will come when their baby teeth will come off and change into permanent teeth. Normally, children's canines will change into permanent canines when they reach the age of 11-13 years.
Know What Canine Teeth And Its Functions
In contrast to incisors which are used for cutting or molars to pulverize food, canines function to tear or tear food. With tooth roots reaching the jawbone, canines also have greater strength than incisors.
Therefore, when there is a disruption in canines, such as canines that grow in the wrong position, abnormalities in shape and size, or even not grow at all, then it is likely that it will make you have difficulty chewing food or even talk.
The emergence of these disorders can be caused by many things, ranging from heredity, interference with the jaw tissue, or the date of milk teeth (in children).
Treat Fangs from Now on!
Having problems with canines will certainly disturb and reduce the beauty of your smile. So, let's take care of your dental health from now on.
To maintain and care for dental health, including canines, do the following tips:
1. Routine brushing teeth
Toothbrush needs to be done 2 times a day, especially after every meal and before going to bed. To brush your teeth, use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small part of the head to reach all parts of the tooth, including between the canines.
2. Choosing the right toothpaste
Generally, a good toothpaste for cleaning teeth is toothpaste that contains flouride. This substance serves to harden and strengthen the protective layer or tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay.
3. Clean teeth with dental floss
Cleaning your teeth by brushing it is apparently not enough, you know. To clean teeth better, it is necessary to clean teeth with dental floss, at least once a day.
4. Avoid foods and drinks that can damage teeth
To maintain strength and healthy teeth, limit the consumption of foods or drinks that are too sweet or sour. This is because foods or drinks that contain high sugar or acid can damage tooth enamel and cause cavities.
5. Chew gum
Chewing sugar-free gum can also be a simple way to care for teeth. By chewing gum, the remaining food that may be stuck in the teeth can be lifted and the production of saliva, which is useful for cleaning the acid attached to the teeth can be increased.
In addition, you also need to provide enough fluids by drinking plenty of water to clean the remaining dirt left between the sidelines and the surface of the teeth, including canines. As much as possible, avoid the habit of using teeth to bite hard objects, such as opening bottles or opening food packages.
In addition to following the tips above, maintaining dental health also needs to be done routinely check teeth to the dentist, at least every 6 months. This dental examination aims to detect problems in the teeth early, so they can be treated immediately.
