How many teeth does an adult have? Most adults are expected to have 32 permanent teeth, though many end up with fewer depending on wisdom teeth, extractions, or dental health.
You spend your entire life with a full set of teeth (or even with a few missing), but most of us have no idea how many there are. It might not sound like a big issue. However, the number of teeth you have tells us a lot about oral health, including whether you have wisdom teeth or not.
Understanding why that number varies can give you a clearer picture of what’s normal — and when it might be worth checking in with your dentist.
The Basics: Adult vs Baby Teeth
Let’s start with the basics: humans — across their lifetime — will have 52 teeth (at maximum). The first set of teeth is known as baby teeth or milk teeth. These teeth come in when you’re very young (teething). Babies often cry a lot during this period.
Later on, around age 6-12 years old, baby teeth begin to fall out. The adult teeth, contained in the jawline, then grow to fill the gap. But what’s the difference between adult and baby teeth?
· Baby teeth (primary teeth): 20 in total, smaller in size, appear from around 6 months and fall out between ages 6–12.
· Adult teeth (permanent teeth): 32 in total (including wisdom teeth), larger and stronger, designed to last for life.
Why the change? Well, adults require stronger, bigger teeth more suited to their larger jaw size. Adult teeth help with chewing efficiency, speaking, and a ton of other tasks. They help fill out the jaw, supporting your mouth’s structure.
How Many Teeth Do Adults Have?
Most adults have 32 teeth, including wisdom teeth. That’s 16 teeth on the upper jaw, and 16 on the lower jaw.
Not all 16 teeth are the same. They’re split into:
· Four Incisors: The flat, sharp front teeth used for biting into food and sensing its texture.
· Two Canines: Also called cuspids, these pointed teeth are built for tearing and holding food.
· Four Premolars: Known as bicuspids, they sit between the canines and molars. With two pointed cusps, they help both cut and crush food.
· Six Molars (including wisdom teeth): Found at the back of the mouth, molars do the heavy work of grinding food. If your wisdom teeth don’t erupt or are removed, you’ll usually have four molars instead of six.
Each of these teeth serves a different purpose. Collectively, they help you eat, chew, and digest a wide variety of foods. With canines like a predator and molars like herbivores, we can eat everything and anything, making us successful omnivores.
What About Wisdom Teeth?
Most adults don’t start out with 32 adult teeth — they have just 28.
When you turn 18, most people only have these 28 permanent teeth. Then, around the late teens and early 20s, the wisdom teeth begin to grow in. Unlike the previous growth, the wisdom teeth aren’t replacing baby teeth; they’re growing at the very back of your mouth.
They’re called wisdom teeth due to the age at which they develop (they’ve been known as that since Aristotle). However, there’s no guarantee that any of these teeth will erupt at all.
Even if they do come through, they’re often removed. Wisdom teeth are prone to impaction, crowding, and pain — that’s why they’re the most common cause of tooth extraction. In fact, around half of people will undergo wisdom tooth removal. So, it’s perfectly healthy to have fewer than 32 teeth: 28 is the real crucial number.
Why Tooth Counts Vary in Adults
Tooth count is one measure of oral health.
While it’s more likely than not that an adult will eventually have fewer than 32 teeth, those with fewer are likely to have poorer outcomes. It’s estimated that adults between the ages of 20 and 64 have an average of 25.5 remaining teeth due to tooth loss.
The causes are manifold. But they can include:
· Extractions due to decay or damage
· Advanced gum disease
· Orthodontic removals
Most commonly, poor oral hygiene (alongside trauma or smoking) can cause substantial tooth decay. Some procedures, like fillings and root canals, can prolong the life of the tooth. However, if the underlying structure is threatened or a severe abscess occurs, your dentist may recommend tooth removal.
That’s not the only cause.
In rare cases, people can be born with too many (hyperdontia) or too few (hypodontia) teeth. In these cases, a person may have extra teeth or not enough. Most people with these conditions inherited them from their parents.
Protecting Your Teeth from Decay
You can’t help if a wisdom tooth fails to grow in or becomes impacted. The best course of action is a safe removal.
But most other causes of tooth removal are entirely preventable. It’s down to poor oral hygiene: not brushing enough, not cleaning between the teeth, smoking, and just generally neglecting your teeth and gums.
Here’s what you should do:
· Brush correctly. Always brush twice a day for around two minutes. Using a high-quality sonic toothbrush, such as those from Oclean, can make it easier to remove plaque and protect your enamel
· Never go to bed without brushing. Leaving your teeth unbrushed allows plaque and tartar to accumulate. Over time, this hardens into tartar, which can cause major issues.
· Floss and use interdental brushes. Clean in between your teeth using floss or an interdental brush to get to those areas where brushes can’t.
· Eat less sugar and starchy foods. Sugary and starchy foods (e.g., potatoes) damage your teeth. Starchy foods, in particular, stick to your teeth, causing decay.
Take the Next Step
So, how many teeth do an adult have? Most of us are expected to have 32 permanent teeth, though many end up with 28 if wisdom teeth are removed or never grow in.
What really matters isn’t the exact number, but how well you look after the teeth you do have. Strong, healthy teeth support everything from eating and speaking to confidence in your smile.
Oclean specialises in cutting-edge sonic toothbrushes. Our incredible lineup contains Maglev motors, vibrating at unrivalled speeds. That helps clean above and below the gumline, guaranteeing a level of cleaning you won’t get anywhere else.
Upgrade your brushing routine and protect the only teeth you’re going to get. Browse our product selection to find the right brush for you.
