DECIDUOUS TEETH Meaning and
Definition
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Deciduous teeth, also known as baby teeth, primary teeth, or milk teeth, refer to the first set of teeth that develop in humans and many other mammals. These teeth typically begin to erupt through the gums during infancy, starting as early as six months and typically finishing by the age of three. Deciduous teeth are temporary as they eventually shed or fall out, making way for the eruption of permanent teeth.
The function of deciduous teeth is essential for various purposes. They aid in proper chewing and grinding of food, facilitate speech development, and play a crucial role in maintaining the spacing necessary for permanent teeth. Generally, humans have 20 deciduous teeth in total, consisting of four central incisors, four lateral incisors, four canines, and eight molars.
Deciduous teeth differ from permanent teeth in various ways. They are smaller in size, have thinner enamel, and appear whiter in color. The roots of deciduous teeth are generally weaker and shorter, allowing them to be easily shed as permanent teeth begin to grow beneath them.
The process of naturally shedding deciduous teeth is known as exfoliation. It typically occurs around the age of six or seven when permanent teeth start to erupt. As permanent teeth push against the roots of deciduous teeth, they become loose and ultimately fall out. This transitional period is a natural part of dental development, marking the shift from baby teeth to adult teeth.
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• Milk teeth, teeth of the first dentition.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for DECIDUOUS TEETH
- seciduous teeth
- xeciduous teeth
- ceciduous teeth
- feciduous teeth
- reciduous teeth
- eeciduous teeth
- dwciduous teeth
- dsciduous teeth
- ddciduous teeth
- drciduous teeth
- d4ciduous teeth
- d3ciduous teeth
- dexiduous teeth
- deviduous teeth
- defiduous teeth
- dediduous teeth
- decuduous teeth
- decjduous teeth
- deckduous teeth
- decoduous teeth
Etymology of DECIDUOUS TEETH
The word "deciduous" is derived from the Latin word "deciduus", which means "falling off", "shedding", or "temporary". In the context of teeth, "deciduous" refers to the primary teeth or baby teeth that begin to fall out and are eventually replaced by permanent teeth. These temporary teeth are called "deciduous teeth" due to their characteristic of shedding.
