How Many Teeth Do We Have?

Table of Contents

• Baby Teeth
• Adult Teeth  

Key Takeaways

• The number of teeth a person has depends on their age.
• Children have 20 baby teeth (also known as deciduous, milk, or primary teeth), with 10 on the top and 10 on the bottom. 
• Adults have 32 teeth, which includes 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12 molars (including 4 wisdom teeth).  
• If the 4 wisdom teeth are removed, an adult will have 28 teeth.

CChildren begin teething around six months of age. The technical term for these early teeth is deciduous teeth, because they eventually fall out, just as leaves fall off from deciduous trees in autumn. Most people know these teeth as baby teeth, though they are also sometimes called milk teeth or primary teeth.  

In all, children have 20 baby teeth - 10 on the top and 10 on the bottom. These teeth act as placeholders for the adult teeth that grow in after the baby teeth fall out. Keep in mind that just because these teeth are destined to fall out, doesn't mean that they shouldn't be cared for the same way that adult teeth are cared for. Developing healthy eating and brushing habits should begin shortly after your child begins teething. At about age six most children begin to lose their baby teeth, which are then replaced with adult teeth. This process will continue into their early teens.

Adults have more teeth than children; most adults have 32 teeth. Among these teeth are 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12 molars (including 4 wisdom teeth). Most people have a complete set of adult teeth by the time they reach their teenage years. It is common for adults to have their wisdom teeth removed because there is not always enough room for them to grow in comfortably or without causing misalignment of other teeth.  

So, how many teeth do we have? Typically, children have 20 and adults have 32 (28 if the wisdom teeth are removed). And each one of them needs your care. Learn more about taking care of your teeth in the Colgate Oral Care resources.