How many primary teeth does a human have?
Jan 24, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Chao
Introduction
Primary teeth are the teeth present during infancy and early childhood. The first primary tooth usually erupts around six months of age, and by approximately two and a half years old, all twenty primary teeth have typically erupted. Primary teeth are categorized into incisors, canines, and molars. Parents should pay attention to their child's oral hygiene; once the primary teeth begin to erupt, parents should use a soft gauze pad or finger brush to clean their child's mouth.
Generally, a person has 20 primary teeth. The detailed breakdown is as follows:
Primary teeth are the teeth present during infancy and early childhood. The first primary tooth usually erupts around six months of age, and all 20 primary teeth should have erupted by about two and a half years of age. Primary teeth are categorized into incisors, canines, and molars. Primary incisors are mainly used for cutting food, with four in each jaw, totaling eight; primary canines are used for piercing and tearing food, with two in each jaw, totaling four; primary molars are used for grinding food, with four in each jaw, totaling eight. Primary teeth play important roles in chewing, speech development, aesthetics, and the proper eruption and alignment of permanent teeth. They provide the foundation for oral function during childhood and reserve space for the eruption of permanent teeth, guiding them into the correct positions.
Parents should pay attention to their children's oral hygiene. Once primary teeth begin to erupt, parents should clean their child's mouth using a soft gauze pad or finger brush. As the child grows, parents should teach proper toothbrushing techniques, ensure teeth are brushed at least twice daily, use fluoride toothpaste, and control the amount of toothpaste to prevent excessive fluoride ingestion.
