Have you ever wondered why you need so many teeth? With four different types in your mouth, each serves a purpose to help you bite, chew and even speak.

Let’s take a deeper look at your molars to help you understand why they’re so important!

A Look At Your Molars

Also called a “molar tooth”, every human being has 12—three in the back on each side of your upper and lower jaws. Molars have a particularly broad and flat surface that helps you grind and chew food into small pieces that can be easily swallowed.

Aside from offering support in eating, molars also play a key role in maintaining your facial structure. If it weren’t for your molars, your cheeks might appear sunken. With time, patients who have lost their molars to decay may also develop wrinkles near the back of the cheek where the molars once were.

Supporting Your Molars

Neglecting your molars (and other teeth) can lead to oral health issues as well as overall health problems that go far beyond cosmetics! Because your molars are located in the back of your mouth, they can be inherently hard to clean—in fact, they are often the teeth with the most decay. If you have trouble reaching your back teeth, try opting for a toothbrush with a smaller head or one specifically designed for hard-to-reach areas.

Keep your molars and mouth healthy by maintaining your regularly scheduled visits to our practice. If you’re due for a clean, give us a call today to book an appointment.