Every tooth in our mouth has its own name and function. The teeth in the front of the mouth (incisors, canine, and bicuspid teeth) are intended for holding and biting food into smaller pieces, while the back teeth (molar teeth) are used to grind food into a consistency that’s easy to swallow.

The average adult has 32 teeth: 16 on top and 16 on the bottom, but the average mouth is made to hold only 28 teeth. When 32 teeth are trying to fit in a mouth that holds only 28, the result can be painful. The four teeth causing the overage are your third molars, also known as “wisdom teeth.”