Understanding Your Teeth Chart Numbers

You’ve probably noticed that every tooth has its own number in the upper and lower sets, but you might not know what these numbers mean. And if you’re like many people, you might not have even realized there are two different sets of teeth numbers! Here we’ll explain the system of tooth numbers and where they come from, plus give you examples of how to use them. Once you understand your teeth chart numbers, checking your dental health will be much easier than ever before!

Upper jaw

As you look at your teeth in a mirror, left is your left, and right is your right. Start from top to bottom. First tooth on top row: one Second tooth on top row: two Third tooth on top row: three Last tooth on top row: eighteen Bottom jaw – same thing, just flip it around! First tooth on bottom row: five Second tooth on bottom row: four Third tooth on bottom row: twelve Last tooth in bottom row (bottom most): sixty-nine. Understand how to use these charts by knowing which way is up and down, left and right. The chart below has numbers 1-10 for each tooth with an arrow pointing up or down.

You can see that if you are looking at your front teeth chart numbers in a mirror, then each number represents a specific tooth. If you are looking at your back teeth chart numbers in a mirror, then each number represents where that tooth would be if it were on your front side of your mouth. It is important to know what direction is up and what direction is down when reading these charts because they will be different depending upon whether you are looking at them as if they were facing forward or backward.

Bottom jaw

Bottom teeth are considered to be teeth numbers 1-8. For people with an upper wisdom tooth, it is considered a bottom tooth. These eight teeth help chew and crush food into smaller pieces before they enter your mouth. The first six of these lower teeth are also called bicuspids or bi because they have two points at each end—the biting surface and a sharp point on top called cusps. This makes them ideal for grasping and chewing food while also providing an edge that will slice through tougher items like raw vegetables or meats when you use a cutting motion with your mouth.

The last two lower teeth chart numbers, known as molars or mul for short, have four sharp cusps that grind food into even smaller pieces before swallowing. It’s important to keep all of these teeth clean by brushing and flossing regularly. If left unclean, bacteria can build up in between your teeth and lead to gum disease or cavities. When bacteria spreads from between your teeth into surrounding gums, it can cause swollen gums (gingivitis) which can then lead to bone loss around the roots of your teeth (periodontitis). To prevent gum disease, make sure you brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and floss once daily. See our dental care guide for more information about how to brush properly.

Lateral incisors

The two teeth closest to your lips are called lateral incisors. These are often referred to as your six-year molars, since you lose them at around age 6. (It’s why dentists always ask how old you were when your teeth came in when they’re examining your teeth). The lateral incisors are close together and shaped like a chisel, curving gently down toward your chin. They serve as doorways for food to pass through on its way from your mouth into your throat. There are four of these in total—two on top and two on bottom.

It’s important to brush all of your teeth thoroughly, but especially pay attention to these guys. Many adults have one or both missing due to decay or accidents. If you notice that either one is not there, tell your dentist about it so he can keep an eye out for any problems with your jawbone. Some people end up wearing a partial plate or even full dentures if their teeth don’t grow back or if their bite isn’t stable enough without them. It’s important not to ignore missing teeth because having too many gaps between them can cause bad breath and serious oral health problems down the road if left untreated. Even though we lose our lateral incisors before we turn 7 years old, most people still need braces by that time!

Canines/cuspids

Canines are easily distinguished from other teeth because they are, well, canines. With sharp points and a strong curve, these teeth can do real damage to tender gums and soft flesh. If your canine is misaligned, especially in children under 12 years old, an orthodontist may suggest having it removed as part of an orthodontic treatment plan. The extracted tooth could then be replaced with a dental implant or with another tooth. Canines have a number of names depending on their position in your mouth—for example: cuspids, eyeteeth or eye teeth (depending on what part of your face they’re located) and upper lateral incisors.

They’re also called eye teeth or fangs. You might notice that two canines are missing in some people. This happens when one or both of them don’t develop properly and become impacted, which means they remain trapped inside your jawbone instead of erupting through your gums like normal teeth. Impacted canines usually aren’t a problem until later in life when they start causing pain by rubbing against other teeth. Because impacted canines are so difficult to treat once they cause problems, dentists recommend removing them before you turn 20 if possible.

Premolars

5,6,7,8 and 9 are all premolars. These teeth come between two molars on either side of your mouth. The name premolar comes from Latin for before molar. So number 5 is actually a premolar tooth that’s between your two lower molars (also known as #s 1 and 2).

Molars

The wisdom teeth are third molars, usually located at either of the two back corners of your mouth. They’re technically called molars because they’re the last teeth to appear before you reach full-grown status. This can happen as late as your early 20s—which is why it’s common for people to get their wisdom teeth surgically removed once they come in, if they come in at all. Molars also feature a lot of ridges and bumps on their surface and have very little enamel coating.

Indexing (chart number)

The chart number refers to where a tooth is located in relation to other teeth. So, for example, your front left molar is 19 on your teeth chart. The first number refers to which quadrant of your mouth it’s in; 19 means upper right (don’t worry if you’re not totally sure what a quadrant is – just go with it). The second number tells you where that particular tooth is within that specific quadrant (it’s third from bottom). An easy way to remember how to read charts is by associating its shape with actual numbers: 1 = square or 3 = triangle. In fact, there are many similarities between how we understand our alphabet and our teeth charts.

Wearing a retainer for missing teeth or braces

Retainers are small devices worn at night that help keep your teeth in their proper place after they’ve been moved by braces. If you wear braces to correct crowded or misaligned teeth, wearing a retainer is likely part of your aftercare instructions. While wearing a retainer isn’t exactly fun, it can prevent relapse—and it’s definitely better than living with crooked teeth for years. The bottom line: A retainer will get you back on track and prevent those pesky gaps from reappearing!